Cost of Living Comparison Between Kazan and Ulyanovsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Kazan and Ulyanovsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,094 in Kazan versus $844 in Ulyanovsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,667 in Kazan versus $1,259 in Ulyanovsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,239 in Kazan versus $1,675 in Ulyanovsk.

Living in Kazan is roughly 30% more expensive than in Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kazan 18% lower, Ulyanovsk 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.55 ₽593

$8.97 ₽705

-15.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.90 ₽2,977

$32.25 ₽2,534

17.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 ₽492

$5.81 ₽456

7.92%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ₽231

$2.32 ₽182

26.72%

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

$1.14 ₽89.7

$1.05 ₽82.5

8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽61.2

$0.49 ₽38.77

59.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.74 ₽294

$0.92 ₽72.4

306.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ₽377

$1.60 ₽126

199.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽85.4

$1.11 ₽87.0

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 ₽57.5

$0.60 ₽47.22

21.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽116

$1.20 ₽94.0

23.33%

Eggs

$1.94 ₽152

$1.51 ₽118

28.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.17 ₽878

$9.27 ₽728

20.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.02 ₽394

$4.68 ₽367

7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 ₽765

$8.56 ₽672

13.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₽158

$1.30 ₽102

54.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₽152

$1.48 ₽117

30.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 ₽197

$1.51 ₽118

65.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.46 ₽193

$1.75 ₽138

40.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₽51.8

$0.68 ₽53.0

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₽47.76

$0.39 ₽30.95

56.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 ₽116

$1.80 ₽141

-17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽49.60

$0.50 ₽38.92

26.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.14 ₽247

$1.39 ₽109

125.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.26 ₽649

$4.66 ₽366

77.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₽76.3

$0.86 ₽67.6

12.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽148

$1.82 ₽143

3.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₽44.49

$0.40 ₽31.70

42.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.92 ₽1,958

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ₽102

$1.95 ₽154

-33.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽19.77

$0.18 ₽14.52

38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.86 ₽460

$3.83 ₽301

53.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₽56.7

$0.76 ₽59.4

-5.26%

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

$38.8K ₽3.1M

$49.6K ₽3.9M

-21.67%

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

$44.3K ₽3.5M

$43.5K ₽3.4M

1.98%

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

$106 ₽8,325

$102 ₽8,028

3.71%

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

$5.94 ₽467

$5.46 ₽429

8.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.57 ₽516

$5.46 ₽429

20.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.60 ₽1,854

$34.90 ₽2,742

-32.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.22 ₽1,510

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 ₽438

$4.19 ₽329

33.17%

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

$258 ₽20.3K

$90.3 ₽7,096

185.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,021 ₽551.6K

$6,112 ₽480.2K

14.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 ₽5,219

$101 ₽7,936

-34.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.22 ₽3,552

$47.69 ₽3,747

-5.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽8,161

$88.7 ₽6,964

17.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 ₽7,780

$75.8 ₽5,954

30.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$604 ₽47.4K

$314 ₽24.7K

92.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 ₽32.6K

$236 ₽18.6K

75.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 ₽81.5K

$564 ₽44.3K

84.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$685 ₽53.8K

$303 ₽23.8K

126.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,611 ₽362.2K

$2,283 ₽179.4K

101.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,713 ₽213.1K

$1,374 ₽107.9K

97.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$927 ₽72.8K

$708 ₽55.6K

30.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.15

15.33

18.40%

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

Last update for Kazan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $604 in Kazan and $314 in Ulyanovsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 31% 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 $32.00 in Ulyanovsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $168 per month, with Ulyanovsk cheaper across the board.

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 Ulyanovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kazan and Ulyanovsk differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,094 vs $844 including rent). Ulyanovsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 31% 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 $314 in Ulyanovsk. 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 $1,094 per month in Kazan versus $844 in Ulyanovsk – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $844 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,094 in Kazan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulyanovsk but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.