🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $979 in Makhachkala versus $2,030 in Bourges.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Makhachkala versus $3,102 in Bourges.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,002 in Makhachkala versus $4,173 in Bourges.
🙂Living in Makhachkala costs roughly 52% less than in Bourges, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Makhachkala is 27% below, Bourges is 52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.31₽1,125
$17.02€14.66
-10.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.77₽2,848
$75.8€65.2
-48.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20₽382
$12.79€11.01
-59.34%
Cappuccino
$3.12₽229
$3.83€3.30
-18.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84₽62.0
$2.89€2.49
-70.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35₽25.81
$1.83€1.58
-80.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₽99.6
$8.05€6.93
-83.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50₽184
$6.86€5.90
-63.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51₽111
$1.54€1.33
-1.95%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₽44.23
$2.51€2.16
-76.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38₽101
$2.56€2.20
-46.09%
Eggs
$1.37₽101
$4.23€3.64
-67.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.97₽218
$24.26€20.88
-87.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80₽353
$16.21€13.96
-70.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.92₽361
$25.26€21.75
-80.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74₽128
$2.80€2.41
-37.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75₽129
$2.59€2.23
-32.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72₽200
$3.64€3.13
-25.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89₽139
$3.84€3.31
-50.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88₽64.5
$2.87€2.47
-69.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₽35.84
$2.76€2.37
-82.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36₽173
$1.49€1.28
58.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59₽43.05
$0.85€0.73
-30.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19₽234
$13.69€11.78
-76.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.22₽310
$8.28€7.13
-49.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04₽76.4
$3.23€2.78
-67.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85₽136
$3.07€2.64
-39.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43₽31.44
$1.91€1.65
-77.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$49.76€42.84
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.22₽163
$5.73€4.93
-61.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.21₽15.53
$1.92€1.65
-89.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.18₽454
$57.0€49.09
-89.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70₽51.3
$2.09€1.80
-66.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K₽2.6M
$36.9K€31.8K
-4.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K₽2.2M
$37.6K€32.3K
-19.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.9₽4,033
$279€240
-80.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.13₽450
$22.36€19.25
-72.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.84₽723
$36.84€31.72
-73.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.58₽3,421
$37.44€32.23
24.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.11€15.59
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.02₽369
$13.70€11.80
-63.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166₽12.2K
$294€253
-43.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,077₽519.9K
$12.0K€10.4K
-41.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106₽7,777
$113€97.2
-6.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.24₽3,250
$51.3€44.18
-13.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105₽7,704
$123€106
-14.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145₽10.7K
$165€142
-12.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501₽36.8K
$771€664
-35.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305₽22.4K
$609€524
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$698₽51.2K
$1,232€1,061
-43.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399₽29.3K
$1,083€933
-63.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,789₽131.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,289₽94.7K
$1,034€890
24.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makhachkala
Bourges
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$860₽63.1K
$2,918€2,512
-70.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
3.76
201.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bourges: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Makhachkala and $771 in Bourges. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bourges pays 239% 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: $39.00 in Makhachkala vs $76.0 in Bourges for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $430 per month, with Makhachkala 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
Makhachkala vs Bourges: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makhachkala or Bourges?
Makhachkala wins on cost – living expenses run 107% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makhachkala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Makhachkala or Bourges?
On paper, Bourges earns 239% less. 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 Makhachkala vs Bourges?
Rent for a central apartment: $501 in Makhachkala versus $771 in Bourges. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Makhachkala and Bourges?
Childcare runs $166 in Makhachkala versus $294 in Bourges. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Makhachkala vs Bourges?
Dining out is cheaper in Makhachkala – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $76.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Makhachkala or Bourges?
At $979 in Makhachkala versus $2,030 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Makhachkala or Bourges?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Makhachkala compared to Bourges?
Safety-wise, Makhachkala and Bourges 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 Makhachkala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Makhachkala vs other spots: cost of living compared