Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostroma and Moscow Cost of Living Comparison Between Kostroma and Moscow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $915 per month in Kostroma vs $1,707 in Moscow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,420 per month in Kostroma vs $2,604 in Moscow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,925 per month in Kostroma vs $3,501 in Moscow, rent included.

Kostroma is about 46% cheaper than Moscow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kostroma sits 33% below the global median, while Moscow is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.27 ₽1,483

$11.43 ₽981

51.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.7 ₽4,438

$57.2 ₽4,912

-9.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 ₽612

$6.96 ₽598

2.44%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₽245

$3.47 ₽298

-17.58%

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

$1.46 ₽125

$1.53 ₽132

-4.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽56.7

$0.78 ₽66.8

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 ₽148

$4.68 ₽401

-63.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 ₽210

$4.76 ₽409

-48.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 ₽99.1

$1.17 ₽100

-1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 ₽47.51

$0.97 ₽82.9

-43.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 ₽113

$1.61 ₽138

-18.01%

Eggs

$1.21 ₽104

$1.85 ₽159

-34.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.17 ₽357

$12.72 ₽1,092

-67.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.47 ₽298

$6.23 ₽534

-44.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.78 ₽325

$13.47 ₽1,156

-71.94%

Apples (1kg)

$0.83 ₽70.9

$1.90 ₽163

-56.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₽130

$1.71 ₽147

-11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 ₽80.0

$1.94 ₽167

-52.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ₽115

$3.94 ₽338

-65.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₽63.2

$0.82 ₽70.6

-9.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.42 ₽36.27

$0.64 ₽54.6

-34.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₽87.5

$1.57 ₽135

-35.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 ₽55.4

$0.87 ₽74.5

-25.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ₽262

$3.15 ₽271

-3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.06 ₽434

$11.64 ₽999

-56.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽95.9

$1.16 ₽99.5

-3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₽168

$2.40 ₽206

-18.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₽31.54

$0.92 ₽79.4

-59.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.39 ₽1,750

$39.35 ₽3,377

-48.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ₽118

$3.52 ₽302

-61.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.14 ₽12.37

$0.69 ₽59.0

-79.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 ₽602

$8.93 ₽766

-21.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽65.5

$0.85 ₽73.2

-10.59%

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

$23.5K ₽2.0M

$36.9K ₽3.2M

-36.13%

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

$26.4K ₽2.3M

$38.1K ₽3.3M

-30.71%

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

$125 ₽10.7K

$180 ₽15.5K

-30.95%

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

$6.36 ₽546

$8.22 ₽705

-22.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.64 ₽655

$9.47 ₽812

-19.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.93 ₽2,483

$36.64 ₽3,144

-21.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.43 ₽1,496

$43.52 ₽3,735

-59.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 ₽598

$7.89 ₽677

-11.79%

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

$300 ₽25.8K

$738 ₽63.3K

-59.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,591 ₽565.6K

$22.5K ₽1.9M

-70.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ₽5,460

$96.0 ₽8,241

-33.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.6 ₽4,516

$59.2 ₽5,084

-11.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 ₽9,138

$136 ₽11.6K

-21.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₽8,756

$169 ₽14.5K

-39.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 ₽31.6K

$1,393 ₽119.5K

-73.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 ₽18.1K

$743 ₽63.8K

-71.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 ₽49.7K

$2,793 ₽239.7K

-79.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₽29.6K

$1,397 ₽119.9K

-75.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,755 ₽150.7K

$10.0K ₽861.5K

-82.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$856 ₽73.5K

$4,413 ₽378.7K

-80.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$902 ₽77.4K

$1,665 ₽142.9K

-45.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

0.70%

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

Last update for Kostroma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $369 in Kostroma versus $1,393 in Moscow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 84% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Kostroma versus $57.0 in Moscow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $127 vs $246 – making Kostroma the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Kostroma vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 86% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,373 per month in Kostroma and $2,561 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostroma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 95% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Kostroma and $57.0 in Moscow. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Moscow at $1,707. In Kostroma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kostroma costs $915 versus $1,707 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Kostroma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.