Cost of Living Comparison Between Korolyov and Kaluga Cost of Living Comparison Between Korolyov and Kaluga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,256 in Korolyov versus $951 in Kaluga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,826 in Korolyov versus $1,490 in Kaluga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Korolyov versus $2,030 in Kaluga.

Living in Korolyov is roughly 32% more expensive than in Kaluga, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Korolyov 9% lower, Kaluga 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.76 ₽989

$9.80 ₽824

20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 ₽4,944

$34.86 ₽2,930

68.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽585

$4.75 ₽399

46.53%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₽230

$2.45 ₽206

11.43%

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

$0.90 ₽75.8

$0.93 ₽78.2

-3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₽47.85

$0.56 ₽46.99

1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.90 ₽75.3

$1.32 ₽111

-31.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₽119

$1.77 ₽149

-19.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 ₽99.4

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ₽71.2

$0.93 ₽78.2

-8.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₽95.1

$2.26 ₽190

-50.00%

Eggs

$1.52 ₽128

$2.02 ₽169

-24.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 ₽724

$12.69 ₽1,066

-32.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 ₽483

$6.45 ₽542

-10.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 ₽972

$13.52 ₽1,136

-14.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 ₽136

$1.72 ₽144

-6.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 ₽120

$1.57 ₽132

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₽129

$1.60 ₽134

-4.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.44 ₽289

$2.71 ₽228

26.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ₽54.9

$0.52 ₽43.48

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 ₽30.79

$0.48 ₽40.49

-22.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ₽117

$1.33 ₽112

4.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₽77.1

$0.76 ₽64.2

21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 ₽171

$3.08 ₽259

-33.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₽896

$8.49 ₽713

25.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₽59.5

$1.15 ₽96.3

-38.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₽119

$2.57 ₽216

-44.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₽75.3

$0.39 ₽33.00

130.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.11 ₽1,438

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.51 ₽295

$0.90 ₽76.1

290.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽15.24

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.47 ₽292

$6.38 ₽536

-45.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽66.4

$0.75 ₽63.2

5.33%

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

$34.9K ₽2.9M

$48.5K ₽4.1M

-27.99%

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

$27.1K ₽2.3M

$22.9K ₽1.9M

18.25%

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

$121 ₽10.2K

$120 ₽10.1K

1.34%

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

$4.78 ₽402

$5.70 ₽479

-16.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.35 ₽702

$8.53 ₽717

-2.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$142 ₽11.9K

$46.55 ₽3,913

204.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.06 ₽1,938

Cinema Ticket

$5.08 ₽427

$3.51 ₽295

44.73%

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

$177 ₽14.9K

$332 ₽27.9K

-46.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,543 ₽297.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 ₽4,913

$92.5 ₽7,776

-36.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.59 ₽2,403

$34.56 ₽2,905

-17.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 ₽11.7K

$176 ₽14.8K

-20.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ₽9,715

$90.6 ₽7,618

27.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$520 ₽43.7K

$288 ₽24.2K

80.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 ₽36.2K

$206 ₽17.3K

109.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 ₽64.8K

$581 ₽48.8K

32.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₽43.6K

$349 ₽29.3K

48.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,352 ₽197.7K

$1,444 ₽121.4K

62.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,092 ₽175.8K

$1,208 ₽101.5K

73.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,179 ₽99.1K

$640 ₽53.8K

84.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.5

23.12

-24.31%

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

Last update for Korolyov: September 5, 2026

Last update for Kaluga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $520 in Korolyov and $288 in Kaluga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 84% 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: $59.0 in Korolyov vs $35.00 in Kaluga. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $232, with Korolyov 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

Korolyov vs Kaluga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Korolyov and Kaluga differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,256 vs $951 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 84% higher in Korolyov, 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: $520 in Korolyov versus $288 in Kaluga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $177 in Korolyov versus $332 in Kaluga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kaluga – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $59.0 in Korolyov. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $951 in Kaluga versus $1,256 in Korolyov, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaluga but tight or insufficient in Korolyov. The gap between the two cities makes Kaluga 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, Korolyov and Kaluga 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 Kaluga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.