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: $1,020 in Korolyov versus $799 in Kaluga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Korolyov versus $1,209 in Kaluga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,865 in Korolyov versus $1,618 in Kaluga.

Living in Korolyov is roughly 28% more expensive than Kaluga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Korolyov 24% lower, Kaluga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.92 ₽646

$5.79 ₽419

54.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.76 ₽1,504

$21.87 ₽1,584

-5.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 ₽373

$5.00 ₽362

3.00%

Cappuccino

$2.08 ₽150

$2.01 ₽145

3.48%

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

$0.87 ₽63.1

$1.34 ₽97.4

-35.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₽26.67

$0.53 ₽38.03

-30.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.07 ₽295

$1.37 ₽99.6

197.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₽141

$3.02 ₽219

-35.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽86.2

$1.06 ₽76.5

12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 ₽32.62

$0.68 ₽49.43

-33.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 ₽98.1

$1.55 ₽112

-12.26%

Eggs

$1.55 ₽112

$1.64 ₽119

-5.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 ₽858

$8.50 ₽615

39.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.37 ₽389

$3.80 ₽275

41.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₽551

$7.49 ₽542

1.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽135

$1.93 ₽140

-3.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ₽122

$1.70 ₽123

-1.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 ₽169

$1.87 ₽136

25.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.20 ₽304

$3.11 ₽225

35.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 ₽29.61

$0.73 ₽52.7

-43.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 ₽60.5

$0.72 ₽52.3

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 ₽123

$3.18 ₽231

-46.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₽38.24

$0.64 ₽46.59

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 ₽187

$3.01 ₽218

-14.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.05 ₽800

$9.43 ₽683

17.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₽77.4

$0.78 ₽56.5

37.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₽103

$1.92 ₽139

-26.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₽53.9

$0.46 ₽33.33

60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.68 ₽1,570

$19.29 ₽1,397

12.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 ₽187

$3.89 ₽282

-33.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽32.05

$0.11 ₽8.24

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.94 ₽575

$6.27 ₽454

26.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽56.5

$0.78 ₽56.2

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

$37.7K ₽2.7M

$34.7K ₽2.5M

8.39%

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

$19.9K ₽1.4M

$36.1K ₽2.6M

-44.95%

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

$125 ₽9,023

$77.3 ₽5,595

61.28%

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

$5.41 ₽392

$5.57 ₽403

-2.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.04 ₽582

$4.98 ₽361

61.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.36 ₽2,344

$35.84 ₽2,596

-9.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.18 ₽1,100

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 ₽386

$7.57 ₽548

-29.59%

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

$696 ₽50.4K

$355 ₽25.7K

96.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ₽1.1M

$6,992 ₽506.4K

108.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 ₽4,099

$73.4 ₽5,313

-22.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.99 ₽1,810

$38.83 ₽2,812

-35.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.73 ₽2,733

$116 ₽8,406

-67.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.1 ₽4,132

$75.4 ₽5,458

-24.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₽32.9K

$257 ₽18.6K

76.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ₽26.8K

$194 ₽14.1K

91.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₽50.2K

$451 ₽32.6K

53.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₽36.5K

$332 ₽24.1K

51.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,746 ₽198.9K

$1,718 ₽124.4K

59.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,425 ₽175.6K

$1,423 ₽103.0K

70.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,116 ₽80.8K

$872 ₽63.2K

27.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.5

3.45%

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

Last update for Korolyov: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kaluga: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Korolyov and $257 in Kaluga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Korolyov pays 28% 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: $21.00 in Korolyov vs $22.00 in Kaluga. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $191, with Kaluga 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 28% in total monthly costs ($1,020 vs $799 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Korolyov pays 28% 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: $454 in Korolyov versus $257 in Kaluga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kaluga runs roughly 12% less than in Korolyov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $696 in Korolyov versus $355 in Kaluga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kaluga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 28% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.