Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Saint Petersburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Makhachkala and Saint Petersburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $966 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,265 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,476 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,018 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,772 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

Makhachkala is about 24% cheaper than Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Makhachkala and Saint Petersburg are more affordable than the global median – Makhachkala 28% lower, Saint Petersburg 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.62 ₽1,188

$9.55 ₽727

63.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.69 ₽2,943

$48.61 ₽3,697

-20.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 ₽395

$5.83 ₽443

-10.98%

Cappuccino

$3.24 ₽246

$2.60 ₽198

24.62%

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

$0.84 ₽63.6

$1.13 ₽86.0

-25.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₽26.81

$0.59 ₽44.73

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₽104

$3.22 ₽245

-57.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₽195

$3.78 ₽288

-32.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ₽115

$1.21 ₽92.1

24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽49.55

$0.94 ₽71.7

-30.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 ₽105

$1.57 ₽120

-12.10%

Eggs

$1.38 ₽105

$1.95 ₽148

-29.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.99 ₽227

$11.97 ₽910

-75.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 ₽366

$5.39 ₽410

-10.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.05 ₽384

$10.94 ₽832

-53.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ₽138

$1.67 ₽127

8.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₽134

$1.85 ₽141

-4.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 ₽213

$2.00 ₽152

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₽145

$3.53 ₽268

-45.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽62.2

$0.84 ₽63.9

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ₽36.98

$0.68 ₽51.9

-27.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 ₽189

$1.31 ₽99.6

89.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₽45.39

$0.74 ₽56.0

-18.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽245

$2.87 ₽218

12.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 ₽655

$9.04 ₽687

-4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽76.3

$1.01 ₽76.5

-0.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₽142

$2.07 ₽157

-10.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ₽32.02

$0.92 ₽70.1

-54.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.5 ₽4,070

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 ₽170

$2.85 ₽217

-21.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₽16.69

$0.56 ₽42.43

-60.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.50 ₽494

$7.66 ₽583

-15.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 ₽53.9

$0.76 ₽57.7

-6.58%

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

$35.5K ₽2.7M

$37.7K ₽2.9M

-5.88%

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

$30.0K ₽2.3M

$37.8K ₽2.9M

-20.75%

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

$54.3 ₽4,130

$131 ₽9,997

-58.69%

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

$6.32 ₽481

$7.03 ₽535

-10.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.94 ₽756

$7.42 ₽564

33.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.60 ₽3,620

$37.75 ₽2,871

26.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.01 ₽1,750

Cinema Ticket

$5.02 ₽382

$5.58 ₽425

-10.04%

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

$169 ₽12.9K

$400 ₽30.4K

-57.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,894 ₽524.3K

$9,770 ₽743.0K

-29.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 ₽7,818

$100 ₽7,640

2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.15 ₽3,358

$54.0 ₽4,106

-18.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₽7,877

$118 ₽8,949

-11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 ₽11.1K

$136 ₽10.3K

7.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₽37.9K

$796 ₽60.5K

-37.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₽23.1K

$475 ₽36.2K

-35.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₽53.2K

$1,421 ₽108.1K

-50.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 ₽31.3K

$915 ₽69.6K

-55.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 ₽128.0K

$4,533 ₽344.8K

-62.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,217 ₽92.6K

$2,834 ₽215.6K

-57.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$621 ₽47.3K

$1,247 ₽94.9K

-50.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

24.95

-54.59%

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

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Makhachkala versus $796 in Saint Petersburg. 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 101% higher in Saint Petersburg, 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 $49 in Saint Petersburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $222 – 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 Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Petersburg is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,897 in Saint Petersburg. 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 $1,265 in Saint Petersburg. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Makhachkala and $400 in Saint Petersburg. 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 Saint Petersburg at $1,265. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Petersburg 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, Saint Petersburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.