OBJECTIVES: To estimate the costs associated with prostate cancer (PC) for Russia in 2009.  METHODS: We used the standard cost of illness (COI) method, relying on the prevalence approach and adopting the viewpoint of the payers (national and regional governments). We calculated  direct medical costs (hospital and outpatient services and drugs provided in outpatient care), non-medical costs (monetary payments in social benefits) and indirect costs (projected productivity loss due to sickness and disability) associated with the PC in Russia in 2009. The data for analysis was obtained from the national statistics, regional cancer and prescription registries, expert panel interviews and literature. The costs were calculated for the total population of PC patients in Russia.  To calculate direct medical costs, we used national reimbursement rates per unit of care (1 hospital day or 1 visit to an out-patient oncology clinic) and regional data on prostate cancer drug costs. To access non-medical costs, we used data on social benefits expenditures. Indirect costs were estimated with friction costs method. RESULTS: The total costs of prostate cancer in Russia in 2009 was 3,674 billion RUR (€89,98 mln), or 33 270 RUR (€814) as average cost per patient per year. More than half of total cost (65,4%)  occur in patients during the 1st year after diagnosis. The direct medical costs accounted for 73,1% of total spending, direct non-medical costs – for 19,7%, and indirect costs  – for 7,17%. Direct medical costs represented 86,6% of total spending in PC patients within the 1styears after the diagnosis; during the subsequent years after the diagnosis this number reduces to 47,8%. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates that the most significant part of spending in prostate cancer overall is related to direct medical costs during the 1st year after the diagnosis.