🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,029 in Astrakhan versus $1,292 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,529 in Astrakhan versus $2,043 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Astrakhan versus $2,794 in Saint Petersburg.
🌍Living in Astrakhan costs roughly 20% less than in Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Astrakhan23% lower, Saint Petersburg3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.85₽863
$9.41₽749
15.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.14₽2,717
$50.0₽3,982
-31.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.77₽618
$5.69₽453
36.56%
Cappuccino
$1.86₽148
$2.62₽209
-29.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92₽73.1
$1.09₽86.5
-15.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₽38.71
$0.57₽45.65
-14.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29₽102
$3.22₽257
-59.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56₽204
$3.83₽305
-33.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33₽105
$1.16₽92.6
14.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05₽83.7
$0.91₽72.1
15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06₽84.5
$1.58₽126
-32.91%
Eggs
$1.80₽143
$1.86₽148
-3.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.51₽1,951
$12.09₽963
102.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73₽376
$5.29₽421
-10.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.80₽541
$10.85₽864
-37.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55₽123
$1.74₽139
-10.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73₽138
$1.79₽143
-3.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62₽129
$2.00₽159
-19.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39₽190
$3.54₽282
-32.49%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91₽72.3
$0.83₽66.0
9.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.57₽45.29
$0.63₽50.3
-9.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₽111
$1.36₽108
2.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65₽52.1
$0.78₽62.2
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86₽148
$2.97₽237
-37.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.78₽301
$9.03₽719
-58.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10₽87.5
$1.01₽80.4
8.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88₽149
$2.05₽163
-8.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50₽39.66
$0.93₽74.3
-46.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.08₽1,757
$52.9₽4,208
-58.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.59₽206
$2.74₽218
-5.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₽27.93
$0.59₽46.56
-40.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87₽308
$7.61₽605
-49.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86₽68.3
$0.73₽58.3
17.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K₽2.7M
$37.4K₽3.0M
-8.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K₽2.6M
$37.2K₽3.0M
-13.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105₽8,352
$132₽10.5K
-20.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.54₽521
$6.67₽531
-1.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.49₽437
$7.07₽563
-22.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.36₽3,849
$36.62₽2,914
32.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.45₽1,946
$22.66₽1,803
7.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.33₽424
$5.86₽466
-9.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114₽9,090
$398₽31.7K
-71.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,933₽551.8K
$9,616₽765.3K
-27.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.7₽4,589
$99.9₽7,948
-42.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.19₽2,562
$54.6₽4,342
-40.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.2₽7,176
$114₽9,035
-20.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127₽10.1K
$136₽10.8K
-6.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407₽32.4K
$785₽62.4K
-48.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$316₽25.1K
$475₽37.8K
-33.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449₽35.7K
$1,434₽114.2K
-68.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381₽30.3K
$893₽71.1K
-57.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,268₽101.0K
$4,583₽364.8K
-72.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₽50.4K
$2,954₽235.1K
-78.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astrakhan
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$414₽32.9K
$1,206₽96.0K
-65.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
24.95
-38.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Astrakhan: July 25, 2026
Last update for Saint Petersburg: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Astrakhan and $785 in Saint Petersburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Petersburg pays 192% 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: $34.00 in Astrakhan vs $50.0 in Saint Petersburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $221, with Saint Petersburg cheaper for home cooking.
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 Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Astrakhan and in Saint Petersburg?
Astrakhan and Saint Petersburg differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,029 vs $1,292 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, salaries run 192% lower in Saint Petersburg. 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 in Saint Petersburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Astrakhan versus $785 in Saint Petersburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Astrakhan and in Saint Petersburg?
A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 139% less than in Saint Petersburg. 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 Saint Petersburg?
Childcare runs $114 in Astrakhan versus $398 in Saint Petersburg. 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 $1,029 in Astrakhan versus $1,292 in Saint Petersburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. 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 Saint Petersburg?
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 Saint Petersburg?
Expats usually find Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.