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: $1,081 in Kazan versus $966 in Makhachkala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,645 in Kazan versus $1,476 in Makhachkala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,209 in Kazan versus $1,987 in Makhachkala.

Living in Kazan is roughly 12% more expensive than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kazan 20% lower, Makhachkala 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.51 ₽571

$15.62 ₽1,188

-51.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.12 ₽2,899

$38.69 ₽2,943

-1.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 ₽481

$5.19 ₽395

21.97%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ₽234

$3.24 ₽246

-4.94%

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

$1.11 ₽84.4

$0.84 ₽63.6

32.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₽56.0

$0.35 ₽26.81

111.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 ₽294

$1.37 ₽104

182.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.81 ₽366

$2.57 ₽195

87.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 ₽84.7

$1.51 ₽115

-26.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₽55.7

$0.65 ₽49.55

12.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽113

$1.38 ₽105

7.25%

Eggs

$1.97 ₽150

$1.38 ₽105

42.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 ₽856

$2.99 ₽227

276.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 ₽369

$4.81 ₽366

1.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.37 ₽712

$5.05 ₽384

85.54%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₽152

$1.82 ₽138

9.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 ₽147

$1.77 ₽134

9.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₽185

$2.80 ₽213

-13.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 ₽187

$1.91 ₽145

29.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ₽53.3

$0.82 ₽62.2

-14.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₽48.05

$0.49 ₽36.98

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 ₽112

$2.48 ₽189

-40.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽48.22

$0.60 ₽45.39

5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 ₽234

$3.23 ₽245

-4.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.77 ₽667

$8.61 ₽655

1.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₽70.0

$1.00 ₽76.3

-8.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽139

$1.86 ₽142

-2.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₽40.98

$0.42 ₽32.02

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.19 ₽1,916

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ₽93.9

$2.23 ₽170

-44.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₽17.47

$0.22 ₽16.69

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.76 ₽438

$6.50 ₽494

-11.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽58.0

$0.71 ₽53.9

7.04%

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

$37.9K ₽2.9M

$35.5K ₽2.7M

6.85%

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

$43.3K ₽3.3M

$30.0K ₽2.3M

44.64%

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

$105 ₽7,993

$54.3 ₽4,130

93.55%

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

$5.75 ₽437

$6.32 ₽481

-9.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.31 ₽480

$9.94 ₽756

-36.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.85 ₽1,814

$47.60 ₽3,620

-49.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.79 ₽1,429

Cinema Ticket

$5.79 ₽441

$5.02 ₽382

15.34%

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

$255 ₽19.4K

$169 ₽12.9K

50.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,985 ₽531.2K

$6,894 ₽524.3K

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 ₽5,059

$103 ₽7,818

-35.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.00 ₽3,347

$44.15 ₽3,358

-0.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽7,926

$104 ₽7,877

0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.5 ₽7,493

$145 ₽11.1K

-32.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₽46.1K

$498 ₽37.9K

21.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$428 ₽32.5K

$304 ₽23.1K

40.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,040 ₽79.1K

$700 ₽53.2K

48.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 ₽53.1K

$411 ₽31.3K

69.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,688 ₽280.5K

$1,683 ₽128.0K

119.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,514 ₽191.2K

$1,217 ₽92.6K

106.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$861 ₽65.5K

$621 ₽47.3K

38.53%

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: April 14, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $606 in Kazan and $498 in Makhachkala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 39% 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 in Kazan vs $39 in Makhachkala. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $168, 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 12% in total monthly costs ($1,081 vs $966 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kazan pays 39% more on average, 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: $606 in Kazan versus $498 in Makhachkala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Kazan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,081 per month in Kazan versus $966 in Makhachkala – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $966 in Makhachkala versus $1,081 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 12% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.