😐A single person spends $1,128 per month in Kostroma vs $1,017 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,719 per month in Kostroma vs $1,647 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,310 per month in Kostroma vs $2,276 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
😐Kostroma costs about 11% more than Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Kostroma and Novosibirsk are more affordable than the global median – Kostroma16% lower, Novosibirsk24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.88₽940
$7.46₽544
72.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5₽4,199
$37.34₽2,725
54.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.26₽457
$4.95₽361
26.46%
Cappuccino
$3.20₽234
$2.87₽210
11.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40₽102
$1.35₽98.8
3.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₽48.80
$0.84₽61.3
-20.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.40₽321
$2.50₽183
76.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43₽323
$3.86₽282
14.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24₽90.5
$1.10₽80.3
12.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₽39.84
$0.57₽41.37
-3.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58₽115
$1.69₽123
-6.51%
Eggs
$1.47₽108
$1.79₽131
-17.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22₽673
$10.93₽798
-15.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54₽331
$5.10₽373
-10.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87₽720
$10.06₽734
-1.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.48₽108
$2.09₽153
-29.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₽112
$1.93₽141
-20.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28₽93.3
$1.93₽141
-33.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29₽168
$3.35₽245
-31.64%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99₽72.3
$0.76₽55.3
30.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72₽52.4
$0.67₽48.95
7.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17₽85.1
$1.09₽79.3
7.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₽46.78
$0.73₽53.6
-12.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16₽231
$3.20₽234
-1.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.28₽459
$9.58₽699
-34.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07₽78.0
$0.91₽66.5
17.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36₽172
$2.04₽149
15.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46₽33.58
$0.53₽38.76
-13.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.87₽1,596
$31.65₽2,310
-30.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53₽112
$1.85₽135
-17.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.12₽8.86
$0.25₽18.21
-52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.52₽549
$3.90₽285
92.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79₽57.8
$0.74₽54.2
6.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K₽1.9M
$55.1K₽4.0M
-52.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K₽2.2M
$26.4K₽1.9M
11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149₽10.9K
$107₽7,782
39.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.91₽577
$5.48₽400
44.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.04₽368
$8.77₽640
-42.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.50₽1,862
$60.7₽4,432
-58.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.37₽1,779
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49₽474
$5.99₽438
8.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703₽51.3K
$354₽25.8K
98.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.8K₽1.1M
$4,701₽343.2K
215.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.5₽6,389
$69.9₽5,103
25.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5₽3,834
$39.91₽2,913
31.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134₽9,760
$96.6₽7,052
38.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$164₽12.0K
$77.9₽5,683
110.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$444₽32.4K
$470₽34.3K
-5.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301₽22.0K
$302₽22.0K
-0.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768₽56.0K
$840₽61.3K
-8.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$499₽36.4K
$647₽47.2K
-22.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,088₽152.4K
$3,092₽225.7K
-32.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,051₽76.7K
$1,999₽145.9K
-47.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kostroma
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075₽78.5K
$897₽65.5K
19.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.67
17.38
-15.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Kostroma versus $470 in Novosibirsk. 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 20% higher in Kostroma, 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 $58.0 in Kostroma versus $37.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries tell a different story – $183 in Kostroma vs $210 in Novosibirsk – so Kostroma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kostroma or Novosibirsk?
Kostroma costs about 11% more than Novosibirsk, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kostroma vs Novosibirsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,692 per month in Kostroma and $1,526 in Novosibirsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kostroma or Novosibirsk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novosibirsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kostroma or Novosibirsk?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Kostroma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Kostroma vs Novosibirsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Kostroma and $37.00 in Novosibirsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kostroma or Novosibirsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novosibirsk, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Kostroma at $1,128. In Novosibirsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kostroma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Novosibirsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Kostroma or Novosibirsk?
If budget matters most, go with Novosibirsk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostroma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.