Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kaluga and Korolyov

For one person, living is cheaper in Kaluga: $988 a month against $1,273 in Korolyov, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kaluga
🇷🇺 Russia
$988
/mo nomad
Korolyov
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,273
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kaluga and in Korolyov

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $988 in Kaluga versus $1,273 in Korolyov.

  • Kaluga $988
  • Korolyov $1,273

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,541 in Kaluga versus $1,878 in Korolyov.

  • Kaluga $1,541
  • Korolyov $1,878

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,093 in Kaluga versus $2,482 in Korolyov.

  • Kaluga $2,093
  • Korolyov $2,482

Living in Kaluga costs roughly 22% less than in Korolyov, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kaluga 27% lower, Korolyov 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.00 ₽835
$11.83 ₽988
-15.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.78 ₽2,986
$58.8 ₽4,909
-39.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₽389
$7.19 ₽600
-35.19%
Cappuccino
$2.66 ₽222
$2.79 ₽233
-4.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₽80.0
$0.98 ₽81.6
-2.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₽51.0
$0.55 ₽45.70
10.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₽116
$0.98 ₽82.2
41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₽146
$1.40 ₽117
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 ₽102
$1.20 ₽100
1.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 ₽78.4
$0.85 ₽71.0
10.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 ₽194
$1.21 ₽101
91.74%
Eggs
$1.99 ₽166
$1.61 ₽134
23.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.13 ₽1,096
$8.82 ₽736
48.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 ₽554
$5.85 ₽488
13.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.85 ₽1,156
$12.03 ₽1,004
15.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ₽148
$1.59 ₽133
11.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 ₽133
$1.47 ₽123
8.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 ₽131
$1.58 ₽132
-1.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.79 ₽233
$3.65 ₽304
-23.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 ₽43.44
$0.66 ₽55.1
-21.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₽40.89
$0.37 ₽30.97
32.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₽116
$1.41 ₽117
-1.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₽70.3
$0.99 ₽82.4
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12 ₽261
$2.11 ₽176
47.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.57 ₽716
$10.65 ₽889
-19.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₽96.8
$0.77 ₽64.3
50.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 ₽219
$1.53 ₽128
71.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ₽33.93
$1.00 ₽83.2
-59.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.67 ₽1,475
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 ₽77.2
$3.53 ₽295
-73.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.20 ₽16.55
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.34 ₽529
$3.55 ₽296
78.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 ₽64.3
$0.89 ₽74.3
-13.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.2K ₽4.1M
$36.1K ₽3.0M
36.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K ₽2.0M
$27.1K ₽2.3M
-12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₽10.1K
$124 ₽10.4K
-3.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.85 ₽488
$4.66 ₽389
25.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.19 ₽767
$8.10 ₽676
13.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.94 ₽3,918
$143 ₽11.9K
-67.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.36 ₽1,950
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.60 ₽301
$5.47 ₽457
-34.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$327 ₽27.3K
$175 ₽14.6K
86.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,611 ₽301.4K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.1 ₽7,939
$59.4 ₽4,959
60.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.34 ₽2,950
$29.74 ₽2,482
18.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$180 ₽15.0K
$143 ₽11.9K
25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 ₽7,548
$118 ₽9,821
-23.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$293 ₽24.5K
$531 ₽44.3K
-44.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 ₽18.2K
$440 ₽36.7K
-50.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$598 ₽49.9K
$797 ₽66.5K
-24.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$355 ₽29.6K
$541 ₽45.2K
-34.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,474 ₽123.0K
$2,369 ₽197.7K
-37.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,261 ₽105.2K
$2,170 ₽181.1K
-41.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaluga
Korolyov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ₽53.3K
$1,195 ₽99.8K
-46.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
23.12
19.56
18.20%

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

Last update for Kaluga: October 10, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kaluga
$238
Korolyov
$213 10.4% $25
Accommodation & Living
Kaluga
$218
Korolyov
$440 102% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Kaluga
$180
Korolyov
$157 12.7% $23
Eating Out
Kaluga
$143
Korolyov
$164 14.7% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaluga
$136
Korolyov
$137 1.1% $1.5
Sport & Entertainment
Kaluga
$54
Korolyov
$154 184% $100
Getting Around
Kaluga
$20 *
Korolyov
$8.5 * 57.9% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $293 in Kaluga and $531 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 87% 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: $36.00 in Kaluga vs $59.0 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $213, with Korolyov cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Kaluga
🇷🇺 Korolyov
🕒 Local time
06:10 6:10 AM
06:10 6:10 AM
Same time as Kaluga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
331,842
225,299
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kaluga Korolyov 190 km
From you
  • Kaluga
  • Korolyov

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
Kaluga vs Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaluga and in Korolyov?
Kaluga and Korolyov differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($988 vs $1,273 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 87% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaluga and in Korolyov?
Rent for a central apartment: $293 in Kaluga versus $531 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaluga and Korolyov?
Childcare runs $327 in Kaluga versus $175 in Korolyov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kaluga – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $59.0 in Korolyov. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $988 in Kaluga versus $1,273 in Korolyov, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaluga but tight or insufficient in Korolyov. The gap between the two cities makes Kaluga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaluga and Korolyov?
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.
Is Kaluga or Korolyov safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Kaluga or Korolyov?
Expats usually find Kaluga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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