Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Moscow Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Moscow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,685 in Moscow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,476 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,583 in Moscow, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Makhachkala vs $3,482 in Moscow, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 43% cheaper than Moscow, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Makhachkala sits 28% below the global median, while Moscow is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.62 ₽1,188

$12.76 ₽970

22.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.69 ₽2,943

$58.7 ₽4,463

-34.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₽395

$6.37 ₽485

-18.52%

Cappuccino

$3.24 ₽246

$3.23 ₽245

0.31%

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

$0.84 ₽63.6

$1.38 ₽105

-39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽26.81

$0.67 ₽50.9

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₽104

$4.53 ₽345

-69.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₽195

$4.37 ₽333

-41.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ₽115

$1.27 ₽96.8

18.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽49.55

$0.85 ₽64.5

-23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₽105

$1.67 ₽127

-17.37%

Eggs

$1.38 ₽105

$1.94 ₽148

-28.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.99 ₽227

$13.06 ₽993

-77.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 ₽366

$5.92 ₽450

-18.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 ₽384

$11.90 ₽905

-57.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ₽138

$1.93 ₽147

-5.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₽134

$2.11 ₽161

-16.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ₽213

$2.26 ₽172

23.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₽145

$4.12 ₽313

-53.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽62.2

$0.99 ₽75.5

-17.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₽36.98

$0.78 ₽59.4

-37.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 ₽189

$1.71 ₽130

45.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₽45.39

$0.75 ₽57.4

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽245

$3.21 ₽244

0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 ₽655

$10.54 ₽802

-18.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽76.3

$1.07 ₽81.4

-6.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₽142

$2.33 ₽177

-20.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ₽32.02

$0.91 ₽69.1

-53.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.54 ₽2,855

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 ₽170

$2.53 ₽192

-11.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₽16.69

$0.45 ₽33.98

-51.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 ₽494

$7.99 ₽608

-18.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽53.9

$0.82 ₽62.2

-13.41%

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

$35.5K ₽2.7M

$37.5K ₽2.8M

-5.30%

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

$30.0K ₽2.3M

$37.0K ₽2.8M

-18.90%

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

$54.3 ₽4,130

$152 ₽11.5K

-64.21%

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

$6.32 ₽481

$8.21 ₽624

-23.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.94 ₽756

$7.89 ₽600

25.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.60 ₽3,620

$47.72 ₽3,629

-0.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.06 ₽2,666

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ₽382

$6.50 ₽494

-22.77%

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

$169 ₽12.9K

$696 ₽53.0K

-75.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,894 ₽524.3K

$14.9K ₽1.1M

-53.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₽7,818

$87.8 ₽6,678

17.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.15 ₽3,358

$53.5 ₽4,068

-17.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽7,877

$135 ₽10.2K

-23.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 ₽11.1K

$164 ₽12.5K

-11.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₽37.9K

$1,299 ₽98.8K

-61.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₽23.1K

$757 ₽57.6K

-59.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₽53.2K

$2,901 ₽220.6K

-75.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₽31.3K

$1,424 ₽108.3K

-71.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ₽128.0K

$11.9K ₽905.2K

-85.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,217 ₽92.6K

$4,828 ₽367.1K

-74.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 ₽47.3K

$1,826 ₽138.9K

-65.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

24.39

-53.55%

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

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Last update for Moscow: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Makhachkala versus $1,299 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 194% 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 $39 in Makhachkala versus $59 in Moscow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $244 – making Makhachkala 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

Makhachkala vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,448 per month in Makhachkala and $2,527 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $966 in Makhachkala and $1,685 in Moscow. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Makhachkala and $696 in Moscow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Moscow at $1,685. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.