Dedollarization goes mainstream. Cheap dollar influenced Belarusians' habits
The stable and even strengthening Belarusian ruble, along with state efforts to dedollarize the economy, has become more attractive.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Lookby.media
Why has dedollarization reached a household level?
Naturally, the authorities in Belarus have long and repeatedly spoken about the country needing dedollarization. But for a long time, it was impossible to implement anything in practice.
People not only got used to dollars as a convenient tool but were also taught by several devaluations when the ruble sharply and, most importantly, quickly depreciated.
In Belarus, it has traditionally been the case that prices for real estate, rent, finishing works, tutor services, cars, and their repairs by garage mechanics and small service stations were in dollars.
But recently, at least partially, the ruble began to push out foreign currency.
And the main reason for this is not primarily the calls from the state, nor even the requirements of MARG to remove prices in foreign currency from popular tour agency websites, developers, and popular classified ad sites.
The main driver for the ruble gaining popularity among the masses is its relative stability.
If one looks at how the ruble has behaved over the past 12 months, it can be seen that the exchange rate remains quite stable.
Photo: screenshots from myfin.by website
The Belarusian ruble against the dollar strengthened by approximately 5.5%
Exactly one year ago, on June 12, 2025, the dollar cost a little less than three rubles, and now it's around 2.8 - 2.85 rubles. That is, during this period, the Belarusian ruble strengthened against the dollar by approximately 5.5%.
Compared to the beginning of 2025, the strengthening was about 18%. On June 12, 2024, the dollar was around 3.2 rubles, and in the same period of 2023, it was 2.95. That is, despite periodic fluctuations, the ruble's exchange rate specifically against the dollar generally remains quite stable.
Even compared to the pre-war exchange rate, when the dollar in Belarus cost around 2.55 rubles, the current rate is only 11% higher — and this is over a period of four and a half years.
It is precisely this strengthening of the exchange rate, observed for more than a year, that influences people's desire to exchange foreign currency for rubles.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Nasha Niva
Housing rent. Switched to rubles and didn't miscalculate
Previously, rental rates were by default fixed in dollars, especially since a currency equivalent can still be specified in the contract.
But in recent years, the ruble has also made its way into this sector. For example, a person who rents rooms to students in one of the regional centers says that until last year, the price was always in dollars.
"Every time the dollar went up, some students started complaining that it became expensive. Like, maybe you'll give a discount," recalls the man, who decided to fix the price in rubles as an experiment last year.
"In 2024, I took 80 dollars, and in 2025, I decided to raise it to 90 dollars. The dollar was then about 3 rubles, so I announced the price as 270 rubles. As a result, it turned out that I didn't lose out.
Sometimes, instead of 90 dollars, it even came out to almost a hundred. And for students whose parents earn in rubles, it's also convenient because the price remains the same," says the interlocutor.
This year, he also plans to fix the price in rubles. However, he wants to raise the rate to 300 rubles per person.
Not an isolated case
Looking at the ads on Kufar, one can notice that some landlords set the price precisely in rubles.
Photo: screenshot from kufar.by website
From the ads, it can be noticed that if a person pegs the price to the dollar, then in dollars, the amount will be an even number, but not in rubles. And vice versa, if it's a round number in rubles, then in dollars, there will be a fraction at the end.
Photo: screenshot from kufar.by website
Not everyone believes in the ruble
A person who rents out an apartment for a long term says that although it is sometimes truly unpleasant for him when he converts money into rubles, he does not plan to give up dollars yet.
"Now, when the ruble strengthens, it's disadvantageous for me, and when it weakens, it's for the tenant. It will be the same story with rubles, just mirrored, so I'm not planning to give up familiar dollars at least for now," says the interlocutor.
Garage mechanics, tutors, builders
Some service providers, traditionally charging in dollars, are also switching to rubles.
For example, garage mechanics who repair cars say that after the dollar began to fall noticeably below three rubles, they started quoting prices precisely in rubles.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Nasha Niva
"300 rubles is better than 100 dollars"
And such an approach is explained not by patriotism or faith in the national currency, but by simple profit.
If earlier a master estimated the work of replacing the timing belt at one hundred dollars, then over time, instead of 300+ rubles, he began to receive only 270-290 rubles from the client or when exchanging.
Therefore, now for such work, he immediately quotes the price of three hundred rubles.
Not just garage mechanics
Love for the national currency is also beginning to awaken in tutoring circles.
The reason is still the same. Due to the strengthening of the ruble, it has become more convenient to state the price in the national currency.
"Five to ten years ago, it was difficult to imagine tutors wanting to take rubles. Some were even reluctant to take money at the exchange rate. Now the situation is changing, because it's better to take 30 rubles than 10 dollars. Or simply, for example, to name 50 rubles per lesson," explains the tutor.
Illustrative photo. Photo: Nasha Niva
Ruble and dollar: psychological barrier and cold calculation
It turns out that in all cases, the so-called dedollarization is primarily happening because the ruble has strengthened.
Nevertheless, it is still too early to speak of a total transition to rubles, as is happening, for example, in Russia, where there is no rigid peg to the dollar even in matters like real estate and car prices.
But the fact of gradual everyday dedollarization is hard to ignore.