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: $862 in Kaluga versus $1,259 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,388 in Kaluga versus $1,831 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,915 in Kaluga versus $2,403 in Korolyov.

Living in Kaluga costs roughly 32% less than in Korolyov, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kaluga 37% lower, Korolyov 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.60 ₽660

$11.47 ₽995

-33.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.97 ₽3,036

$58.0 ₽5,031

-39.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 ₽414

$7.10 ₽616

-32.82%

Cappuccino

$2.46 ₽214

$2.37 ₽206

3.80%

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

$0.97 ₽83.8

$0.67 ₽58.2

44.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₽48.60

$0.42 ₽36.88

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₽113

$0.80 ₽69.2

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₽153

$1.38 ₽120

27.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽104

$1.18 ₽103

1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ₽71.5

$0.88 ₽76.5

-6.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 ₽162

$1.14 ₽99.2

63.16%

Eggs

$2.01 ₽174

$1.24 ₽108

62.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.66 ₽1,012

$11.72 ₽1,017

-0.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.59 ₽485

$5.41 ₽469

3.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.09 ₽1,050

$11.77 ₽1,022

2.72%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 ₽152

$1.92 ₽166

-8.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ₽144

$1.47 ₽128

12.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₽155

$1.77 ₽154

1.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 ₽256

$2.73 ₽237

8.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 ₽79.7

$0.61 ₽53.1

50.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ₽39.60

$0.64 ₽55.6

-28.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₽107

$0.94 ₽81.8

30.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽58.8

$0.81 ₽70.0

-16.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₽255

$2.86 ₽248

2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.30 ₽721

$9.23 ₽801

-10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₽116

$1.12 ₽97.2

18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ₽241

$2.37 ₽206

17.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₽37.07

$0.97 ₽84.6

-55.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.65 ₽1,533

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.11 ₽183

$1.50 ₽131

40.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽59.4

$0.70 ₽60.8

-2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 ₽554

$9.05 ₽786

-29.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽69.0

$0.84 ₽72.7

-4.76%

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

$47.8K ₽4.1M

$20.5K ₽1.8M

132.73%

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

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$26.8K ₽2.3M

-12.03%

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

$102 ₽8,873

$121 ₽10.5K

-15.49%

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

$6.20 ₽538

$4.54 ₽394

36.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.80 ₽677

$7.95 ₽690

-1.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.46 ₽3,946

$140 ₽12.2K

-67.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.27 ₽2,020

Cinema Ticket

$5.28 ₽458

$5.18 ₽450

1.93%

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

$322 ₽27.9K

$758 ₽65.8K

-57.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₽1.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 ₽5,093

$58.2 ₽5,056

0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.20 ₽3,056

$29.02 ₽2,519

21.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 ₽12.0K

$93.9 ₽8,147

47.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 ₽7,222

$170 ₽14.8K

-51.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 ₽22.2K

$517 ₽44.9K

-50.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 ₽16.6K

$439 ₽38.1K

-56.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 ₽45.0K

$788 ₽68.4K

-34.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₽30.2K

$525 ₽45.6K

-33.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,454 ₽126.2K

$2,335 ₽202.7K

-37.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,210 ₽105.1K

$2,066 ₽179.4K

-41.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$719 ₽62.5K

$954 ₽82.8K

-24.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

23.12

17.5

32.11%

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

Last update for Kaluga: August 30, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $256 in Kaluga and $517 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 33% 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: $35.00 in Kaluga vs $58.0 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $212, with Korolyov 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 46% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $1,259 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 33% 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: $256 in Kaluga versus $517 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $322 in Kaluga versus $758 in Korolyov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kaluga – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $58.0 in Korolyov. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $862 in Kaluga versus $1,259 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.

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 46% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.