Cost of Living Comparison Between Irkutsk and Kazan Cost of Living Comparison Between Irkutsk and Kazan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Irkutsk versus $1,199 in Kazan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,471 in Irkutsk versus $1,850 in Kazan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,925 in Irkutsk versus $2,500 in Kazan.

Living in Irkutsk costs roughly 15% less than in Kazan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Irkutsk 26% lower, Kazan 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.01 ₽506

$12.99 ₽1,094

-53.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.54 ₽2,487

$38.62 ₽3,252

-23.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.97 ₽503

$6.21 ₽523

-3.86%

Cappuccino

$2.95 ₽249

$3.29 ₽277

-10.33%

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

$1.57 ₽132

$1.41 ₽118

11.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽56.3

$0.55 ₽46.54

21.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₽198

$1.80 ₽151

30.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 ₽296

$2.35 ₽198

49.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 ₽106

$1.11 ₽93.5

12.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ₽53.4

$0.69 ₽57.8

-8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₽188

$1.47 ₽124

51.70%

Eggs

$1.61 ₽136

$1.44 ₽121

11.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.62 ₽978

$11.18 ₽942

3.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽516

$4.50 ₽379

36.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 ₽933

$10.57 ₽890

4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ₽157

$1.91 ₽161

-2.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 ₽166

$1.73 ₽145

13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 ₽149

$1.85 ₽156

-4.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.56 ₽300

$3.07 ₽259

15.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ₽60.3

$0.85 ₽71.5

-15.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.2

$0.53 ₽44.55

20.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 ₽147

$1.43 ₽120

22.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₽54.2

$0.69 ₽58.0

-7.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 ₽232

$3.02 ₽254

-8.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 ₽637

$7.67 ₽646

-1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽85.9

$1.04 ₽87.9

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₽164

$1.91 ₽161

2.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 ₽51.6

$0.56 ₽46.75

8.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.96 ₽1,344

$18.71 ₽1,576

-14.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ₽101

$2.32 ₽195

-48.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽15.01

$0.52 ₽43.75

-65.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.60 ₽724

$7.07 ₽595

21.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽66.0

$0.81 ₽68.2

-3.70%

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

$29.1K ₽2.5M

$36.2K ₽3.0M

-19.63%

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

$37.0K ₽3.1M

$42.1K ₽3.5M

-12.15%

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

$118 ₽9,963

$127 ₽10.7K

-6.76%

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

$5.63 ₽474

$6.07 ₽511

-7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.61 ₽978

$6.84 ₽576

69.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.11 ₽2,873

$32.22 ₽2,714

5.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.25 ₽1,789

$30.05 ₽2,531

-29.28%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 ₽542

$6.56 ₽552

-1.98%

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

$296 ₽24.9K

$286 ₽24.1K

3.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,158 ₽265.9K

$6,476 ₽545.4K

-51.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 ₽4,900

$89.9 ₽7,569

-35.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.50 ₽1,979

$92.0 ₽7,748

-74.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 ₽8,261

$105 ₽8,855

-6.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₽9,751

$77.4 ₽6,514

49.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ₽36.4K

$673 ₽56.7K

-35.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 ₽27.0K

$417 ₽35.1K

-23.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$745 ₽62.7K

$1,126 ₽94.9K

-33.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₽35.7K

$784 ₽66.0K

-46.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,659 ₽223.9K

$4,345 ₽365.9K

-38.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,779 ₽149.8K

$2,309 ₽194.5K

-22.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$757 ₽63.7K

$955 ₽80.5K

-20.76%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Kazan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Irkutsk and $673 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 26% 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: $30.00 in Irkutsk vs $39.00 in Kazan. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $202, with Kazan 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

Irkutsk vs Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Irkutsk wins on cost – living expenses run 18% 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.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Kazan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Irkutsk versus $673 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $296 in Irkutsk versus $286 in Kazan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Kazan pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,017 in Irkutsk versus $1,199 in Kazan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Irkutsk but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Irkutsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Irkutsk and Kazan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Irkutsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.