🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Makhachkala versus $1,081 in Kazan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,476 in Makhachkala versus $1,645 in Kazan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Makhachkala versus $2,209 in Kazan.
🙂Living in Makhachkala costs roughly 11% less than in Kazan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Makhachkala28% lower, Kazan20% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.62₽1,188
$7.51₽571
107.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.69₽2,943
$38.12₽2,899
1.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19₽395
$6.33₽481
-18.01%
Cappuccino
$3.24₽246
$3.08₽234
5.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84₽63.6
$1.11₽84.4
-24.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35₽26.81
$0.74₽56.0
-52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37₽104
$3.87₽294
-64.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57₽195
$4.81₽366
-46.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51₽115
$1.11₽84.7
36.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65₽49.55
$0.73₽55.7
-10.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38₽105
$1.48₽113
-6.76%
Eggs
$1.38₽105
$1.97₽150
-29.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.99₽227
$11.25₽856
-73.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.81₽366
$4.86₽369
-1.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.05₽384
$9.37₽712
-46.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82₽138
$1.99₽152
-8.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77₽134
$1.94₽147
-8.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80₽213
$2.43₽185
15.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91₽145
$2.47₽187
-22.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82₽62.2
$0.70₽53.3
17.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₽36.98
$0.63₽48.05
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.48₽189
$1.47₽112
68.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60₽45.39
$0.63₽48.22
-4.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23₽245
$3.08₽234
4.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.61₽655
$8.77₽667
-1.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00₽76.3
$0.92₽70.0
8.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86₽142
$1.82₽139
2.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42₽32.02
$0.54₽40.98
-22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.19₽1,916
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23₽170
$1.23₽93.9
81.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₽16.69
$0.23₽17.47
-4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50₽494
$5.76₽438
12.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71₽53.9
$0.76₽58.0
-6.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K₽2.7M
$37.9K₽2.9M
-6.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K₽2.3M
$43.3K₽3.3M
-30.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.3₽4,130
$105₽7,993
-48.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.32₽481
$5.75₽437
9.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.94₽756
$6.31₽480
57.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.60₽3,620
$23.85₽1,814
99.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.79₽1,429
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.02₽382
$5.79₽441
-13.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$169₽12.9K
$255₽19.4K
-33.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,894₽524.3K
$6,985₽531.2K
-1.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103₽7,818
$66.5₽5,059
54.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.15₽3,358
$44.00₽3,347
0.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104₽7,877
$104₽7,926
-0.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145₽11.1K
$98.5₽7,493
47.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$498₽37.9K
$606₽46.1K
-17.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304₽23.1K
$428₽32.5K
-28.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$700₽53.2K
$1,040₽79.1K
-32.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$411₽31.3K
$698₽53.1K
-41.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,683₽128.0K
$3,688₽280.5K
-54.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,217₽92.6K
$2,514₽191.2K
-51.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makhachkala
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$621₽47.3K
$861₽65.5K
-27.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
18.15
-37.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026
Last update for Kazan: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Makhachkala and $606 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kazan pays 39% 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 in Makhachkala vs $38 in Kazan. Groceries flip the comparison at $168 vs $205, with Makhachkala cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Makhachkala and Kazan?
Makhachkala and Kazan differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $1,081 including rent). Makhachkala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kazan earns 39% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Makhachkala and Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $498 in Makhachkala versus $606 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Kazan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Makhachkala or Kazan?
All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Makhachkala versus $1,081 in Kazan – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $966 in Makhachkala versus $1,081 in Kazan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Makhachkala but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Makhachkala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Makhachkala and Kazan?
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.
Is Makhachkala or Kazan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Makhachkala and Kazan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Makhachkala or Kazan?
Expats usually find Makhachkala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Makhachkala vs other spots: cost of living compared