Cost of Living Comparison Between Kazan and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Kazan and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,094 in Kazan versus $958 in Makhachkala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,667 in Kazan versus $1,485 in Makhachkala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,239 in Kazan versus $2,011 in Makhachkala.

Living in Kazan is roughly 14% more expensive than in Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kazan 18% lower, Makhachkala 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₽593

$15.57 ₽1,223

-51.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.90 ₽2,977

$39.54 ₽3,107

-4.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 ₽492

$5.20 ₽409

20.58%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ₽231

$3.30 ₽259

-10.91%

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

$1.14 ₽89.7

$0.80 ₽62.6

42.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽61.2

$0.35 ₽27.76

122.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₽294

$1.42 ₽112

163.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ₽377

$2.50 ₽196

91.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽85.4

$1.50 ₽118

-27.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₽57.5

$0.65 ₽51.2

12.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽116

$1.43 ₽112

3.50%

Eggs

$1.94 ₽152

$1.37 ₽108

41.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 ₽878

$3.09 ₽243

261.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.02 ₽394

$4.73 ₽372

6.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ₽765

$5.00 ₽393

94.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₽158

$1.81 ₽142

11.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₽152

$1.68 ₽132

14.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₽197

$2.75 ₽216

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ₽193

$1.82 ₽143

35.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₽51.8

$0.83 ₽65.2

-20.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₽47.76

$0.45 ₽35.16

35.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ₽116

$2.43 ₽191

-39.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽49.60

$0.58 ₽45.63

8.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ₽247

Wine (Bottle)

$8.26 ₽649

$3.82 ₽300

116.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₽76.3

$1.04 ₽81.4

-6.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽148

$1.95 ₽153

-3.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₽44.49

$0.40 ₽31.36

42.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.92 ₽1,958

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₽102

$2.24 ₽176

-42.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽19.77

$0.18 ₽14.02

38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 ₽460

$6.51 ₽511

-9.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₽56.7

$0.71 ₽55.8

1.41%

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

$38.8K ₽3.1M

$36.0K ₽2.8M

7.71%

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

$44.3K ₽3.5M

$31.0K ₽2.4M

43.18%

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

$106 ₽8,325

$54.2 ₽4,257

95.59%

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

$5.94 ₽467

$6.31 ₽496

-5.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.57 ₽516

$9.63 ₽757

-31.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.60 ₽1,854

$46.00 ₽3,613

-48.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 ₽1,510

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 ₽438

$5.09 ₽400

9.63%

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

$258 ₽20.3K

$164 ₽12.9K

57.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,021 ₽551.6K

$6,965 ₽547.2K

0.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₽5,219

$104 ₽8,179

-36.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 ₽3,552

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽8,161

$104 ₽8,209

-0.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 ₽7,780

$144 ₽11.3K

-31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₽47.4K

$497 ₽39.0K

21.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ₽32.6K

$298 ₽23.4K

39.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₽81.5K

$720 ₽56.6K

44.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$685 ₽53.8K

$402 ₽31.6K

70.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,611 ₽362.2K

$1,666 ₽130.9K

176.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 ₽213.1K

$1,210 ₽95.1K

124.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$927 ₽72.8K

$830 ₽65.2K

11.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.15

11.33

60.19%

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

Last update for Kazan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $604 in Kazan and $497 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 12% 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: $38.00 in Kazan vs $40.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $157, with Makhachkala 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

Kazan vs Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kazan and Makhachkala differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,094 vs $958 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Kazan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $604 in Kazan versus $497 in Makhachkala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Kazan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,094 per month in Kazan versus $958 in Makhachkala – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $958 in Makhachkala versus $1,094 in Kazan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala 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, Kazan and Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.