Russia's 2007 subsistence level set at $163 a month-ministry

MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - The average subsistence level in Russia in 2007 will be 4,414 rubles ($163) a month, a deputy finance minister said Friday.

But Anton Siluanov said he did not know when the minimum wage would rise to match it.

Social benefits and salaries are calculated in multiples of the minimum wage.

"I don't know in what year this will happen," he said.

He said that if the minimum wage is raised too quickly, regional budgets might not be able to cope with the increase.

The minimum wage is now at 1,100 rubles [$40] a month.