Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaluga and Korolyov Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaluga and Korolyov

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $782 in Kaluga versus $997 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,212 in Kaluga versus $1,403 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Kaluga versus $1,808 in Korolyov.

Living in Kaluga costs roughly 22% less than in Korolyov, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kaluga 41% lower, Korolyov 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.77 ₽451

$8.84 ₽690

-34.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.05 ₽1,723

$20.46 ₽1,598

7.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₽406

$5.27 ₽412

-1.52%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₽156

$2.04 ₽159

-1.96%

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

$1.36 ₽106

$0.86 ₽66.8

58.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₽43.67

$0.39 ₽30.53

43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₽107

$4.15 ₽324

-66.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 ₽235

$1.85 ₽144

62.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽82.0

$1.19 ₽93.2

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₽52.7

$0.42 ₽32.62

59.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ₽121

$1.31 ₽102

18.32%

Eggs

$1.71 ₽134

$1.62 ₽127

5.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 ₽630

$11.81 ₽923

-31.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ₽290

$5.49 ₽429

-32.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 ₽579

$7.98 ₽623

-7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.87 ₽146

$1.94 ₽151

-3.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₽126

$1.69 ₽132

-4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽152

$2.37 ₽185

-18.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.22 ₽252

$3.99 ₽311

-19.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 ₽62.2

$0.41 ₽32.01

95.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽52.6

$0.84 ₽65.7

-20.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.25 ₽254

$1.65 ₽129

96.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽51.6

$0.52 ₽40.89

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽236

$2.46 ₽192

22.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 ₽710

$10.46 ₽817

-13.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₽60.2

$1.08 ₽84.3

-28.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽147

$1.47 ₽115

27.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ₽32.81

$0.75 ₽58.4

-44.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.70 ₽1,461

$22.46 ₽1,754

-16.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 ₽292

$2.58 ₽201

44.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.13 ₽9.85

$0.47 ₽36.76

-72.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 ₽505

$7.91 ₽618

-18.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₽60.4

$0.77 ₽60.3

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

$33.9K ₽2.6M

$37.6K ₽2.9M

-10.07%

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

$35.4K ₽2.8M

$20.6K ₽1.6M

72.10%

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

$78.2 ₽6,112

$123 ₽9,629

-36.53%

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

$5.67 ₽443

$5.53 ₽432

2.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$4.94 ₽386

$7.91 ₽618

-37.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.96 ₽2,731

$31.58 ₽2,468

10.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.51 ₽1,212

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 ₽612

$5.34 ₽417

46.63%

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

$353 ₽27.6K

$691 ₽54.0K

-48.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,030 ₽549.2K

$14.4K ₽1.1M

-51.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.5 ₽5,741

$57.9 ₽4,522

26.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.51 ₽2,930

$25.60 ₽2,000

46.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₽8,960

$38.34 ₽2,995

199.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 ₽5,961

$57.6 ₽4,498

32.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₽19.9K

$450 ₽35.1K

-43.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$196 ₽15.3K

$367 ₽28.7K

-46.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₽34.3K

$698 ₽54.5K

-37.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₽26.6K

$488 ₽38.1K

-30.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,627 ₽127.1K

$2,644 ₽206.5K

-38.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,366 ₽106.7K

$2,315 ₽180.9K

-41.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 ₽64.9K

$1,055 ₽82.4K

-21.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.5

-3.33%

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

Last update for Kaluga: July 11, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $254 in Kaluga and $450 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 27% 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: $22.00 in Kaluga vs $20.00 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $209, with Kaluga 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

Kaluga vs Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kaluga and Korolyov differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($782 vs $997 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Korolyov. 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: $254 in Kaluga versus $450 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kaluga runs roughly 20% less than in Korolyov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $353 in Kaluga versus $691 in Korolyov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kaluga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Kaluga and Korolyov 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 Kaluga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.