🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,259 in Korolyov versus $1,707 in Moscow.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,831 in Korolyov versus $2,604 in Moscow.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,403 in Korolyov versus $3,501 in Moscow.
🌍Living in Korolyov costs roughly 26% less than in Moscow, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Korolyov is 8% below, Moscow is 24% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.47₽984
$11.43₽981
0.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0₽4,974
$57.2₽4,912
1.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.10₽609
$6.96₽598
2.01%
Cappuccino
$2.37₽203
$3.47₽298
-31.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₽57.5
$1.53₽132
-56.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₽36.46
$0.78₽66.8
-46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.80₽68.4
$4.68₽401
-82.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38₽118
$4.76₽409
-71.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18₽101
$1.17₽100
0.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.88₽75.6
$0.97₽82.9
-9.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14₽98.1
$1.61₽138
-29.19%
Eggs
$1.24₽106
$1.85₽159
-32.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.72₽1,005
$12.72₽1,092
-7.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41₽464
$6.23₽534
-13.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77₽1,010
$13.47₽1,156
-12.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92₽165
$1.90₽163
1.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47₽126
$1.71₽147
-14.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77₽152
$1.94₽167
-8.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73₽234
$3.94₽338
-30.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.61₽52.5
$0.82₽70.6
-25.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₽54.9
$0.64₽54.6
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94₽80.8
$1.57₽135
-40.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₽69.2
$0.87₽74.5
-6.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86₽245
$3.15₽271
-9.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.23₽792
$11.64₽999
-20.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12₽96.1
$1.16₽99.5
-3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37₽203
$2.40₽206
-1.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97₽83.6
$0.92₽79.4
5.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$39.35₽3,377
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₽129
$3.52₽302
-57.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70₽60.1
$0.69₽59.0
1.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.05₽777
$8.93₽766
1.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84₽71.9
$0.85₽73.2
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K₽1.8M
$36.9K₽3.2M
-44.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K₽2.3M
$38.1K₽3.3M
-29.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121₽10.4K
$180₽15.5K
-32.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.54₽390
$8.22₽705
-44.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₽682
$9.47₽812
-16.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$140₽12.0K
$36.64₽3,144
282.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$43.52₽3,735
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.18₽445
$7.89₽677
-34.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$758₽65.1K
$738₽63.3K
2.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.0K₽1.9M
$22.5K₽1.9M
-2.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2₽4,998
$96.0₽8,241
-39.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.02₽2,490
$59.2₽5,084
-51.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9₽8,054
$136₽11.6K
-30.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170₽14.6K
$169₽14.5K
0.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$517₽44.4K
$1,393₽119.5K
-62.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$439₽37.7K
$743₽63.8K
-40.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$788₽67.6K
$2,793₽239.7K
-71.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$525₽45.1K
$1,397₽119.9K
-62.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,335₽200.4K
$10.0K₽861.5K
-76.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,066₽177.3K
$4,413₽378.7K
-53.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Moscow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$954₽81.8K
$1,665₽142.9K
-42.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.5
19.86
-11.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Korolyov: August 30, 2026
Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $517 in Korolyov and $1,393 in Moscow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Moscow pays 75% 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: $58.0 in Korolyov vs $57.0 in Moscow. Groceries flip the comparison at $212 vs $246, 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 Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Korolyov or Moscow?
Korolyov wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Moscow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or in Moscow?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Moscow. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Korolyov compared to Moscow?
Rent for a central apartment: $517 in Korolyov versus $1,393 in Moscow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Korolyov or in Moscow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Korolyov compared to Moscow?
All in, you'll spend $1,259 per month in Korolyov versus $1,707 in Moscow – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Korolyov or in Moscow?
At $1,259 in Korolyov versus $1,707 in Moscow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Korolyov or Moscow?
Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,259 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov hard to pass up.
How safe is Korolyov compared to Moscow?
Safety-wise, Korolyov and Moscow are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Korolyov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.