Cost of Living Comparison Between Elista and Moscow Cost of Living Comparison Between Elista and Moscow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $973 per month in Elista vs $1,689 in Moscow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,486 per month in Elista vs $2,582 in Moscow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Elista vs $3,475 in Moscow, rent included.

Elista is about 42% cheaper than Moscow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Elista sits 28% below the global median, while Moscow is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.55 ₽692

$12.95 ₽938

-26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.72 ₽2,806

$57.0 ₽4,130

-32.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 ₽420

$6.31 ₽457

-8.08%

Cappuccino

$2.29 ₽166

$3.31 ₽240

-30.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽81.0

$1.40 ₽101

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₽37.49

$0.63 ₽45.62

-17.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.42 ₽103

$4.35 ₽315

-67.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₽181

$4.53 ₽328

-44.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₽84.0

$1.35 ₽97.6

-14.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ₽51.0

$0.89 ₽64.3

-21.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ₽101

$1.68 ₽122

-17.26%

Eggs

$1.76 ₽128

$1.85 ₽134

-4.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.61 ₽769

$12.94 ₽937

-18.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₽350

$6.02 ₽437

-19.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.73 ₽632

$12.18 ₽883

-28.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.73 ₽126

$1.94 ₽140

-10.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 ₽136

$2.06 ₽150

-9.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₽139

$2.27 ₽164

-15.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.76 ₽200

$4.04 ₽293

-31.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 ₽60.4

$0.98 ₽71.3

-15.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₽49.25

$0.79 ₽57.6

-13.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ₽99.1

$1.69 ₽122

-18.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽48.38

$0.79 ₽57.5

-15.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 ₽216

$3.23 ₽234

-8.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.19 ₽304

$10.88 ₽789

-61.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽73.6

$1.11 ₽80.7

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₽138

$2.41 ₽175

-20.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₽35.53

$0.90 ₽65.3

-45.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.34 ₽2,778

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽134

$2.51 ₽182

-26.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 ₽25.82

$0.45 ₽32.46

-20.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.37 ₽461

$7.93 ₽574

-19.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₽52.2

$0.82 ₽59.3

-12.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.7K ₽2.5M

$37.4K ₽2.7M

-7.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K ₽2.5M

$36.6K ₽2.7M

-4.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$109 ₽7,865

$150 ₽10.9K

-27.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.11 ₽442

$8.15 ₽591

-25.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.60 ₽551

$8.04 ₽582

-5.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.79 ₽2,593

$47.24 ₽3,423

-24.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 ₽2,490

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₽361

$6.45 ₽468

-22.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$319 ₽23.1K

$698 ₽50.5K

-54.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,122 ₽516.1K

$14.7K ₽1.1M

-51.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 ₽4,990

$87.6 ₽6,349

-21.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 ₽3,277

$52.8 ₽3,823

-14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,249

$131 ₽9,461

-12.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₽7,713

$160 ₽11.6K

-33.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 ₽32.3K

$1,310 ₽94.9K

-65.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$301 ₽21.8K

$740 ₽53.6K

-59.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₽56.1K

$2,942 ₽213.2K

-73.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₽36.4K

$1,435 ₽104.0K

-64.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,271 ₽164.5K

$11.9K ₽859.3K

-80.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,569 ₽113.7K

$4,856 ₽351.8K

-67.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$404 ₽29.3K

$2,014 ₽145.9K

-79.92%

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 Elista: June 6, 2026

Last update for Moscow: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Elista versus $1,310 in Moscow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 398% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Elista versus $57.0 in Moscow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $246 – making Elista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Elista vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,460 per month in Elista and $2,533 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Elista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Elista and $57.0 in Moscow. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elista, where all-in costs run around $973, than in Moscow at $1,689. In Elista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Elista – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Elista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.