πA single person spends $1,011 per month in Kurgan vs $1,017 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,544 per month in Kurgan vs $1,647 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,076 per month in Kurgan vs $2,276 in Novosibirsk, rent included.
πKurgan is about 1% cheaper than Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Kurgan and Novosibirsk are more affordable than the global median β Kurgan25% lower, Novosibirsk24% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.37β½465
$7.46β½544
-14.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.10β½3,292
$37.34β½2,725
20.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.75β½419
$4.95β½361
16.16%
Cappuccino
$2.27β½166
$2.87β½210
-20.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23β½89.5
$1.35β½98.8
-8.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40β½28.93
$0.84β½61.3
-52.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92β½67.0
$2.50β½183
-63.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93β½141
$3.86β½282
-50.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03β½75.3
$1.10β½80.3
-6.36%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56β½41.09
$0.57β½41.37
-1.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45β½106
$1.69β½123
-14.20%
Eggs
$1.34β½98.1
$1.79β½131
-25.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11β½738
$10.93β½798
-7.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.09β½518
$5.10β½373
39.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.51β½840
$10.06β½734
14.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85β½135
$2.09β½153
-11.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05β½150
$1.93β½141
6.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04β½149
$1.93β½141
5.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48β½254
$3.35β½245
3.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11β½81.3
$0.76β½55.3
46.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80β½58.2
$0.67β½48.95
19.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58β½42.36
$1.09β½79.3
-46.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55β½40.04
$0.73β½53.6
-24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49β½181
$3.20β½234
-22.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72β½418
$9.58β½699
-40.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β½65.7
$0.91β½66.5
-1.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64β½120
$2.04β½149
-19.61%
π Getting Around
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½38.20
$0.53β½38.76
-1.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$31.65β½2,310
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.94β½142
$1.85β½135
4.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33β½23.93
$0.25β½18.21
32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45β½398
$3.90β½285
39.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78β½56.6
$0.74β½54.2
5.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$61.6Kβ½4.5M
$55.1Kβ½4.0M
11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4Kβ½2.3M
$26.4Kβ½1.9M
18.74%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140β½10.2K
$107β½7,782
31.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.16β½377
$5.48β½400
-5.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.60β½555
$8.77β½640
-13.34%
π Sport & Entertainment
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.13β½2,637
$60.7β½4,432
-40.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.37β½1,779
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.91β½285
$5.99β½438
-34.72%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$451β½33.0K
$354β½25.8K
27.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,504β½328.8K
$4,701β½343.2K
-4.19%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.20β½1,913
$69.9β½5,103
-62.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.54β½1,207
$39.91β½2,913
-58.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$161β½11.7K
$96.6β½7,052
66.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$186β½13.6K
$77.9β½5,683
139.25%
π Accommodation & Living
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$450β½32.8K
$470β½34.3K
-4.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305β½22.2K
$302β½22.0K
0.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770β½56.2K
$840β½61.3K
-8.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514β½37.5K
$647β½47.2K
-20.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,092β½225.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,999β½145.9K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Kurgan
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$773β½56.5K
$897β½65.5K
-13.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.45
17.38
-22.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kurgan: June 1, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Kurgan 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.
π°Salaries run about 16% higher in Novosibirsk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Kurgan versus $37.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries tell a different story β $208 in Kurgan vs $210 in Novosibirsk β so Kurgan 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
Kurgan vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novosibirsk cheaper than Kurgan?
Yes β Novosibirsk is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,517 per month in Kurgan and $1,526 in Novosibirsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kurgan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Kurgan vs Novosibirsk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,011 in Kurgan and $1,017 in Novosibirsk. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $451 per month in Kurgan and $354 in Novosibirsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Kurgan or Novosibirsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Novosibirsk at $1,017. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kurgan or Novosibirsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kurgan β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kurgan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novosibirsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.