Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Irkutsk and Kazan

For one person, living is cheaper in Irkutsk: $1,168 a month against $1,254 in Kazan, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Irkutsk, Russia
Kazan, Russia
Irkutsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,168
/mo nomad
Kazan
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,254
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Irkutsk and in Kazan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Irkutsk and in Kazan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,168 in Irkutsk versus $1,254 in Kazan.

  • Irkutsk $1,168
  • Kazan $1,254

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Irkutsk versus $1,944 in Kazan.

  • Irkutsk $1,712
  • Kazan $1,944

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,256 in Irkutsk versus $2,635 in Kazan.

  • Irkutsk $2,256
  • Kazan $2,635

Living in Irkutsk costs roughly 7% less than in Kazan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Irkutsk 14% lower, Kazan 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.23 ₽744
$13.87 ₽1,117
-33.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.50 ₽2,940
$40.79 ₽3,285
-10.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.13 ₽494
$6.49 ₽522
-5.55%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ₽249
$3.27 ₽263
-5.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ₽130
$1.42 ₽115
14.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₽52.5
$0.63 ₽50.6
3.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ₽194
$1.83 ₽148
31.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ₽300
$2.47 ₽199
51.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ₽100
$1.14 ₽91.8
9.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 ₽51.2
$0.77 ₽62.3
-16.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 ₽124
$1.59 ₽128
-3.14%
Eggs
$1.67 ₽134
$1.49 ₽120
12.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.87 ₽956
$11.67 ₽940
1.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.44 ₽599
$4.84 ₽390
53.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 ₽1,023
$11.03 ₽888
15.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 ₽177
$2.00 ₽161
10.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 ₽159
$1.73 ₽139
14.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 ₽136
$2.00 ₽161
-15.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.51 ₽282
$3.16 ₽255
11.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ₽56.9
$0.85 ₽68.5
-16.47%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₽58.0
$0.55 ₽44.21
30.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 ₽122
$1.50 ₽121
1.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₽54.1
$0.78 ₽63.0
-14.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 ₽266
$3.02 ₽243
9.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 ₽636
$8.01 ₽645
-1.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₽83.3
$1.10 ₽88.7
-6.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₽163
$1.99 ₽160
2.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₽43.06
$0.58 ₽46.94
-8.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.42 ₽1,564
$31.56 ₽2,542
-38.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 ₽102
$2.50 ₽201
-49.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.18 ₽14.45
$0.53 ₽42.95
-66.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.22 ₽742
$7.58 ₽611
21.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₽67.6
$0.85 ₽68.4
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.6K ₽4.4M
$53.0K ₽4.3M
3.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.8K ₽3.4M
$42.4K ₽3.4M
-1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ₽9,963
$128 ₽10.3K
-3.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.10 ₽491
$5.61 ₽451
8.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.77 ₽948
$7.33 ₽590
60.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.9 ₽5,790
$37.72 ₽3,038
90.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96 ₽1,768
$31.24 ₽2,516
-29.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.82 ₽549
$6.72 ₽541
1.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$403 ₽32.5K
$301 ₽24.3K
33.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,288 ₽264.8K
$6,657 ₽536.1K
-50.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5 ₽6,324
$95.3 ₽7,671
-17.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.13 ₽2,024
$96.1 ₽7,742
-73.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 ₽8,420
$108 ₽8,658
-2.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₽9,531
$79.0 ₽6,358
49.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 ₽43.1K
$699 ₽56.3K
-23.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 ₽30.6K
$448 ₽36.1K
-15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$791 ₽63.7K
$1,158 ₽93.2K
-31.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$497 ₽40.0K
$806 ₽64.9K
-38.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,799 ₽225.4K
$4,519 ₽363.9K
-38.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,886 ₽151.9K
$2,489 ₽200.5K
-24.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Irkutsk
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 ₽55.0K
$1,000 ₽80.5K
-31.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.57
20.8
18.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Irkutsk: October 27, 2026

Last update for Kazan: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Irkutsk
$380
Kazan
$448 17.9% $68
Groceries & Markets
Irkutsk
$232
Kazan
$213 8.6% $20
Eating Out
Irkutsk
$158
Kazan
$192 21.6% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Irkutsk
$147
Kazan
$170 15.7% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Irkutsk
$142
Kazan
$141 0.5% $0.7
Sport & Entertainment
Irkutsk
$86
Kazan
$51 40.2% $34
Getting Around
Irkutsk
$24
Kazan
$39 64.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Irkutsk and $699 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 46% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $37 in Irkutsk vs $41 in Kazan. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $213, with Kazan cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Irkutsk
🇷🇺 Kazan
🕒 Local time
15:01 3:01 PM
10:01 10:01 AM
5 h behind Irkutsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
617,515
1,257,341
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.92 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Irkutsk Kazan 3,530 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Irkutsk
  • Kazan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Irkutsk vs Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Irkutsk or Kazan?
Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Kazan. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Irkutsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Irkutsk or in Kazan?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Irkutsk. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Irkutsk compared to Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Irkutsk versus $699 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Irkutsk and in Kazan?
Childcare runs $403 in Irkutsk versus $301 in Kazan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Irkutsk or in Kazan?
Shoppers in Kazan pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It’s an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Irkutsk or in Kazan?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Irkutsk is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Should I move to Irkutsk or to Kazan?
It comes down to priorities – Irkutsk wins on affordability, Kazan on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Irkutsk vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?