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: $1,093 in Kazan versus $835 in Ulyanovsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,692 in Kazan versus $1,239 in Ulyanovsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,291 in Kazan versus $1,642 in Ulyanovsk.

Living in Kazan is roughly 31% more expensive than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kazan 18% lower, Ulyanovsk 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.47 ₽551

$8.93 ₽659

-16.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.40 ₽2,833

$31.68 ₽2,338

21.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 ₽472

$5.58 ₽412

14.70%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ₽226

$2.41 ₽178

26.97%

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

$1.12 ₽82.6

$1.11 ₽81.9

0.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽57.3

$0.46 ₽33.72

69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 ₽284

$0.85 ₽62.5

352.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₽349

$1.67 ₽123

183.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 ₽79.4

$1.10 ₽81.5

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₽53.4

$0.65 ₽47.74

10.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 ₽108

$1.19 ₽87.8

22.69%

Eggs

$1.95 ₽144

$1.57 ₽116

24.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 ₽810

$9.35 ₽690

17.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₽356

$4.75 ₽350

1.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 ₽691

$8.51 ₽628

9.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽143

$1.25 ₽91.9

55.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 ₽143

$1.50 ₽110

29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ₽179

$1.46 ₽108

65.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.38 ₽175

$1.74 ₽128

36.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ₽48.99

$0.67 ₽49.15

-1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 ₽43.62

$0.39 ₽28.99

51.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 ₽112

$1.75 ₽129

-13.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₽44.58

$0.54 ₽39.83

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₽241

$1.38 ₽102

136.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.95 ₽660

$4.98 ₽367

79.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₽73.4

$0.91 ₽67.4

8.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₽140

$1.77 ₽131

6.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₽41.83

$0.43 ₽31.93

32.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.24 ₽1,862

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₽91.8

$1.85 ₽137

-32.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.45

$0.19 ₽13.90

31.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.59 ₽412

$3.92 ₽289

42.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽52.4

$0.76 ₽56.0

-6.58%

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

$37.9K ₽2.8M

$48.7K ₽3.6M

-22.24%

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

$44.5K ₽3.3M

$44.7K ₽3.3M

-0.45%

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

$104 ₽7,692

$102 ₽7,546

1.94%

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

$5.71 ₽421

$5.47 ₽403

4.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.47 ₽477

$5.59 ₽412

15.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.77 ₽1,754

$35.95 ₽2,653

-33.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.74 ₽1,383

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ₽422

$4.07 ₽300

40.54%

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

$254 ₽18.8K

$89.2 ₽6,582

184.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,002 ₽516.7K

$6,038 ₽445.6K

15.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 ₽4,887

$100 ₽7,397

-33.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.92 ₽3,241

$47.92 ₽3,536

-8.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽7,707

$87.2 ₽6,434

19.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 ₽7,401

$75.7 ₽5,583

32.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ₽46.2K

$316 ₽23.3K

98.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₽31.3K

$234 ₽17.3K

81.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,040 ₽76.7K

$565 ₽41.7K

84.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$684 ₽50.5K

$304 ₽22.5K

124.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,848 ₽357.7K

$2,443 ₽180.2K

98.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,879 ₽212.5K

$1,482 ₽109.3K

94.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$976 ₽72.0K

$742 ₽54.7K

31.54%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Kazan and $316 in Ulyanovsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kazan pays 32% 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 $203 vs $170 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 31% in total monthly costs ($1,093 vs $835 including rent). Ulyanovsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Kazan pays 32% 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: $626 in Kazan versus $316 in Ulyanovsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Kazan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,093 per month in Kazan versus $835 in Ulyanovsk – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,093 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 31% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.