πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Korolyov versus $1,002 in Novosibirsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Korolyov versus $1,639 in Novosibirsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,865 in Korolyov versus $2,275 in Novosibirsk.
πLiving in Korolyov is roughly 2% more expensive than Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Korolyov24% lower, Novosibirsk25% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92β½646
$7.58β½549
17.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.76β½1,504
$37.54β½2,720
-44.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.15β½373
$5.21β½378
-1.15%
Cappuccino
$2.08β½150
$2.86β½207
-27.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87β½63.1
$1.38β½100
-36.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37β½26.69
$0.86β½62.1
-56.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07β½295
$2.55β½185
59.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94β½141
$3.80β½275
-48.95%
π Groceries & Markets
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19β½86.3
$1.05β½75.8
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45β½32.64
$0.62β½44.62
-27.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36β½98.2
$1.67β½121
-18.56%
Eggs
$1.55β½112
$1.85β½134
-16.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.84β½858
$10.64β½771
11.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.37β½389
$5.18β½375
3.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60β½551
$10.08β½730
-24.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86β½135
$2.10β½152
-11.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68β½122
$1.88β½136
-10.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34β½170
$1.93β½140
21.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20β½304
$3.50β½254
20.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41β½29.63
$0.74β½53.8
-44.59%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84β½60.6
$0.68β½48.99
23.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70β½123
$1.13β½81.7
50.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53β½38.26
$0.72β½52.0
-26.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58β½187
$3.22β½234
-19.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.05β½801
$9.70β½703
13.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07β½77.5
$0.86β½62.4
24.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42β½103
$2.16β½156
-34.26%
π Getting Around
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74β½53.9
$0.53β½38.41
39.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.68β½1,571
$31.64β½2,293
-31.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.58β½187
$1.93β½140
33.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44β½32.07
$0.25β½18.11
76.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.94β½575
$3.78β½274
110.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78β½56.5
$0.76β½55.3
2.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7Kβ½2.7M
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
-32.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9Kβ½1.4M
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
-25.97%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125β½9,028
$104β½7,552
19.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41β½392
$5.51β½399
-1.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04β½583
$8.52β½618
-5.63%
π Sport & Entertainment
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.36β½2,345
$59.9β½4,341
-45.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.18β½1,100
$25.02β½1,813
-39.33%
Cinema Ticket
$5.33β½386
$6.17β½447
-13.61%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696β½50.5K
$350β½25.4K
98.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6Kβ½1.1M
$4,694β½340.1K
210.14%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6β½4,101
$68.8β½4,983
-17.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.99β½1,810
$40.32β½2,922
-38.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$37.73β½2,734
$95.8β½6,944
-60.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.1β½4,134
$79.7β½5,772
-28.37%
π Accommodation & Living
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454β½32.9K
$477β½34.6K
-4.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371β½26.9K
$298β½21.6K
24.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692β½50.2K
$839β½60.8K
-17.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$504β½36.5K
$658β½47.6K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,746β½199.0K
$3,064β½222.0K
-10.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,425β½175.7K
$1,935β½140.2K
25.29%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Korolyov
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,116β½80.8K
$885β½64.1K
26.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
17.38
-13.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Korolyov: June 8, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Korolyov and $477 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Korolyov 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.
πDining out: $21.00 in Korolyov vs $38.00 in Novosibirsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $210 per month, with Korolyov 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
Korolyov vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Korolyov or Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk wins on cost β living expenses run 2% lower than in Korolyov. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Novosibirsk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Korolyov or Novosibirsk?
Korolyov pays 26% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Korolyov vs Novosibirsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $454 in Korolyov versus $477 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Korolyov vs Novosibirsk?
A monthly transit pass in Novosibirsk runs roughly 46% less than in Korolyov. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Korolyov and Novosibirsk?
Childcare runs $696 in Korolyov versus $350 in Novosibirsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Korolyov or Novosibirsk?
At $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $1,020 in Korolyov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Korolyov. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Korolyov or Novosibirsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Korolyov compared to Novosibirsk?
Safety-wise, Korolyov and Novosibirsk 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 Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Korolyov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.