πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,050 in Astrakhan versus $1,689 in Moscow.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,510 in Astrakhan versus $2,582 in Moscow.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Astrakhan versus $3,475 in Moscow.
πLiving in Astrakhan costs roughly 38% less than in Moscow, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Astrakhan is 22% below, Moscow is 26% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.99β½796
$12.95β½938
-15.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.08β½2,397
$57.0β½4,130
-41.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56β½548
$6.31β½457
19.81%
Cappuccino
$1.84β½134
$3.31β½240
-44.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92β½66.9
$1.40β½101
-34.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52β½37.68
$0.63β½45.62
-17.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.26β½91.0
$4.35β½315
-71.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59β½188
$4.53β½328
-42.83%
π Groceries & Markets
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32β½95.8
$1.35β½97.6
-2.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06β½76.5
$0.89β½64.3
19.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01β½73.4
$1.68β½122
-39.88%
Eggs
$1.74β½126
$1.85β½134
-5.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.42β½1,769
$12.94β½937
88.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82β½349
$6.02β½437
-19.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.72β½487
$12.18β½883
-44.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55β½112
$1.94β½140
-20.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80β½130
$2.06β½150
-12.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57β½114
$2.27β½164
-30.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39β½174
$4.04β½293
-40.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95β½68.9
$0.98β½71.3
-3.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57β½41.09
$0.79β½57.6
-27.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45β½105
$1.69β½122
-14.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65β½46.83
$0.79β½57.5
-17.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94β½141
$3.23β½234
-39.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.19β½304
$10.88β½789
-61.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05β½76.0
$1.11β½80.7
-5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95β½141
$2.41β½175
-19.09%
π Getting Around
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48β½35.14
$0.90β½65.3
-46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.77β½1,577
$38.34β½2,778
-43.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.46β½179
$2.51β½182
-1.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33β½23.73
$0.45β½32.46
-26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.83β½277
$7.93β½574
-51.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88β½63.4
$0.82β½59.3
7.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9Kβ½2.5M
$37.4Kβ½2.7M
-9.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4Kβ½2.3M
$36.6Kβ½2.7M
-14.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103β½7,458
$150β½10.9K
-31.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.36β½461
$8.15β½591
-21.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.56β½403
$8.04β½582
-30.85%
π Sport & Entertainment
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.88β½3,469
$47.24β½3,423
1.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.68β½1,788
$34.36β½2,490
-28.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30β½384
$6.45β½468
-17.83%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115β½8,298
$698β½50.5K
-83.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,028β½509.2K
$14.7Kβ½1.1M
-52.31%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8β½4,187
$87.6β½6,349
-34.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.62β½2,291
$52.8β½3,823
-40.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.0β½6,378
$131β½9,461
-32.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129β½9,373
$160β½11.6K
-19.17%
π Accommodation & Living
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421β½30.5K
$1,310β½94.9K
-67.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$321β½23.3K
$740β½53.6K
-56.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445β½32.2K
$2,942β½213.2K
-84.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381β½27.6K
$1,435β½104.0K
-73.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,345β½97.5K
$11.9Kβ½859.3K
-88.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$678β½49.1K
$4,856β½351.8K
-86.03%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Astrakhan
Moscow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$453β½32.8K
$2,014β½145.9K
-77.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
24.39
-37.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Astrakhan: June 7, 2026
Last update for Moscow: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $421 in Astrakhan and $1,310 in Moscow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Moscow pays 345% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Astrakhan vs $57.0 in Moscow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $246 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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,050 vs $1,689 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Moscow earns 345% 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: $421 in Astrakhan versus $1,310 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 76% 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 $115 in Astrakhan versus $698 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 $1,050 in Astrakhan versus $1,689 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 β 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 β expenses run 61% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.