😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,030 in Bourges versus $979 in Makhachkala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Bourges versus $1,491 in Makhachkala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,173 in Bourges versus $2,002 in Makhachkala.
😐Living in Bourges is roughly 107% more expensive than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bourges is 52% above, Makhachkala is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.02€14.66
$15.31₽1,125
11.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.8€65.2
$38.77₽2,848
95.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.79€11.01
$5.20₽382
145.96%
Cappuccino
$3.83€3.30
$3.12₽229
22.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.49
$0.84₽62.0
244.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.58
$0.35₽25.81
422.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.05€6.93
$1.36₽99.6
491.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86€5.90
$2.50₽184
174.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.33
$1.51₽111
1.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51€2.16
$0.60₽44.23
318.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.38₽101
85.51%
Eggs
$4.23€3.64
$1.37₽101
208.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.26€20.88
$2.97₽218
716.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.21€13.96
$4.80₽353
237.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.26€21.75
$4.92₽361
413.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80€2.41
$1.74₽128
60.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.59€2.23
$1.75₽129
48.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.64€3.13
$2.72₽200
33.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84€3.31
$1.89₽139
103.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87€2.47
$0.88₽64.5
226.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.76€2.37
$0.49₽35.84
463.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$2.36₽173
-36.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.59₽43.05
44.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.69€11.78
$3.19₽234
329.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28€7.13
$4.22₽310
96.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.78
$1.04₽76.4
210.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07€2.64
$1.85₽136
65.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.91€1.65
$0.43₽31.44
344.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.76€42.84
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.73€4.93
$2.22₽163
158.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92€1.65
$0.21₽15.53
814.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.0€49.09
$6.18₽454
822.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$0.70₽51.3
198.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$35.3K₽2.6M
4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K€32.3K
$30.3K₽2.2M
24.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$279€240
$54.9₽4,033
407.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.36€19.25
$6.13₽450
264.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.84€31.72
$9.84₽723
274.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.44€32.23
$46.58₽3,421
-19.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11€15.59
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.70€11.80
$5.02₽369
172.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294€253
$166₽12.2K
77.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K€10.4K
$7,077₽519.9K
69.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€97.2
$106₽7,777
6.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3€44.18
$44.24₽3,250
16.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123€106
$105₽7,704
17.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€142
$145₽10.7K
13.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$771€664
$501₽36.8K
53.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609€524
$305₽22.4K
99.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,232€1,061
$698₽51.2K
76.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,083€933
$399₽29.3K
171.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,789₽131.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,034€890
$1,289₽94.7K
-19.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bourges
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,918€2,512
$860₽63.1K
239.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.76
11.33
-66.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bourges: May 31, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $771 in Bourges and $501 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bourges pays 239% 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: $76.0 in Bourges vs $39.00 in Makhachkala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $430 vs $157 per month, with Makhachkala cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bourges vs Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bourges or Makhachkala?
Makhachkala wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makhachkala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bourges or Makhachkala?
Bourges pays 239% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bourges vs Makhachkala?
Rent for a central apartment: $771 in Bourges versus $501 in Makhachkala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bourges and Makhachkala?
Childcare runs $294 in Bourges versus $166 in Makhachkala. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bourges vs Makhachkala?
Dining out is cheaper in Makhachkala – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $76.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bourges or Makhachkala?
At $979 in Makhachkala versus $2,030 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bourges or Makhachkala?
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.
How safe is Bourges compared to Makhachkala?
Safety-wise, Bourges and Makhachkala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makhachkala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.