🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,105 in Kazan versus $1,151 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,654 in Kazan versus $1,736 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,204 in Kazan versus $2,322 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
🙂Living in Kazan costs roughly 4% less than in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kazan18% lower, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.44₽558
$9.36₽702
-20.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.48₽2,813
$38.30₽2,874
-2.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.30₽472
$5.81₽436
8.43%
Cappuccino
$3.00₽225
$2.27₽170
32.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14₽85.6
$1.08₽81.0
5.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72₽53.8
$0.48₽35.88
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.70₽278
$1.36₽102
172.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63₽347
$2.52₽189
83.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09₽81.5
$2.12₽159
-48.58%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₽51.0
$0.99₽74.6
-31.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49₽112
$1.43₽107
4.20%
Eggs
$1.97₽148
$2.86₽215
-31.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.15₽837
$11.79₽884
-5.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.90₽368
$6.20₽466
-20.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.74₽731
$10.84₽813
-10.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94₽145
$3.14₽235
-38.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84₽138
$3.46₽260
-46.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55₽192
$4.18₽314
-39.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45₽184
$4.78₽359
-48.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65₽48.67
$1.00₽74.7
-35.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60₽45.18
$0.98₽73.9
-38.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53₽115
$1.68₽126
-8.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₽47.95
$0.91₽67.9
-29.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23₽242
$2.99₽225
8.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.88₽667
$9.44₽708
-5.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99₽74.6
$1.02₽76.5
-2.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90₽142
$1.84₽138
3.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽40.00
$0.43₽32.22
23.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.55₽1,918
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23₽91.9
$1.87₽140
-34.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₽18.88
$0.55₽40.91
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.68₽426
$6.48₽486
-12.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71₽53.2
$0.76₽57.4
-6.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K₽2.8M
$33.8K₽2.5M
12.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K₽3.3M
$23.3K₽1.7M
90.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104₽7,811
$173₽13.0K
-39.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.74₽431
$8.01₽601
-28.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.44₽484
$13.18₽989
-51.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.91₽1,794
$57.7₽4,326
-58.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.87₽1,416
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.82₽437
$5.91₽443
-1.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$251₽18.8K
$320₽24.0K
-21.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,869₽515.5K
$7,074₽530.8K
-2.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0₽5,025
$69.0₽5,174
-2.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.52₽3,341
$44.75₽3,358
-0.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103₽7,733
$114₽8,565
-9.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100₽7,514
$95.2₽7,143
5.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$617₽46.3K
$449₽33.7K
37.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$417₽31.3K
$305₽22.9K
36.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,053₽79.0K
$747₽56.1K
40.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687₽51.5K
$518₽38.9K
32.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,809₽285.8K
$4,063₽304.9K
-6.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,572₽193.0K
$2,366₽177.5K
8.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kazan
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$901₽67.6K
$1,138₽85.4K
-20.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.15
14.67
23.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kazan: April 19, 2026
Last update for Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $617 in Kazan and $449 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk pays 26% 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: $37 in Kazan vs $38 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $274 per month, with Kazan 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 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kazan and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
Kazan and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,105 vs $1,151 including rent). Kazan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk earns 26% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kazan and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $617 in Kazan versus $449 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kazan or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,105 per month in Kazan versus $1,151 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,105 in Kazan versus $1,151 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kazan but tight or insufficient in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The gap between the two cities makes Kazan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kazan and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
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.
Is Kazan or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kazan and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kazan or Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk?
Expats usually find Kazan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.