🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Astrakhan versus $1,637 in Moscow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,530 in Astrakhan versus $2,608 in Moscow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Astrakhan versus $3,579 in Moscow.
🙂Living in Astrakhan costs roughly 37% less than in Moscow, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Astrakhan is 23% below, Moscow is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80₽811
$12.72₽955
-15.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.14₽2,489
$57.1₽4,286
-41.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76₽583
$6.39₽480
21.44%
Cappuccino
$1.87₽141
$3.31₽249
-43.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85₽64.0
$1.43₽108
-40.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₽39.31
$0.63₽47.27
-17.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30₽97.9
$4.36₽328
-70.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57₽193
$4.36₽327
-41.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₽95.9
$1.32₽99.3
-3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05₽79.1
$0.89₽66.8
17.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₽76.9
$1.67₽126
-38.92%
Eggs
$1.77₽133
$1.84₽138
-3.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.66₽1,853
$13.39₽1,006
84.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.98₽374
$5.95₽447
-16.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.95₽522
$12.26₽921
-43.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64₽123
$1.95₽146
-15.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75₽131
$2.13₽160
-17.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62₽122
$2.36₽177
-31.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41₽181
$4.17₽313
-42.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95₽71.6
$1.03₽77.6
-7.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₽41.78
$0.84₽62.8
-33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₽105
$1.69₽127
-17.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₽49.68
$0.79₽59.7
-16.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89₽142
$3.25₽244
-41.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.59₽495
$10.66₽801
-38.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06₽79.6
$1.12₽84.2
-5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93₽145
$2.31₽173
-16.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽39.46
$0.91₽68.2
-41.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.96₽1,650
$38.03₽2,857
-42.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47₽186
$2.52₽189
-1.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽24.78
$0.44₽33.42
-25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.77₽283
$8.25₽620
-54.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94₽70.6
$0.75₽56.0
25.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K₽2.6M
$37.9K₽2.8M
-8.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K₽2.4M
$37.3K₽2.8M
-14.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102₽7,629
$153₽11.5K
-33.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.47₽486
$8.16₽613
-20.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.51₽414
$8.20₽616
-32.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.96₽3,677
$46.39₽3,484
5.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.95₽1,874
$34.02₽2,555
-26.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49₽412
$6.25₽470
-12.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$113₽8,517
$686₽51.5K
-83.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,984₽524.5K
$14.8K₽1.1M
-52.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2₽4,370
$88.0₽6,607
-33.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.48₽2,364
$53.1₽3,985
-40.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3₽6,784
$130₽9,739
-30.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126₽9,499
$163₽12.3K
-22.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$418₽31.4K
$1,335₽100.3K
-68.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313₽23.5K
$732₽54.9K
-57.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440₽33.0K
$2,943₽221.1K
-85.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382₽28.7K
$1,426₽107.1K
-73.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,686₽126.7K
$11.9K₽893.0K
-85.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,201₽90.2K
$4,809₽361.2K
-75.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508₽38.1K
$1,915₽143.9K
-73.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
24.39
-37.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Astrakhan: April 28, 2026
Last update for Moscow: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $418 in Astrakhan and $1,335 in Moscow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Moscow pays 277% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Astrakhan vs $57.0 in Moscow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $248 per month, with Astrakhan cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Astrakhan vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Astrakhan and Moscow?
Astrakhan and Moscow differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $1,637 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Moscow earns 277% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Astrakhan and Moscow?
Rent for a central apartment: $418 in Astrakhan versus $1,335 in Moscow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Astrakhan and Moscow?
A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 73% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Astrakhan and Moscow?
Childcare runs $113 in Astrakhan versus $686 in Moscow. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,028 in Astrakhan versus $1,637 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Astrakhan and Moscow?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Astrakhan or Moscow?
Expats usually find Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.