Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Abakan

For one person, living is cheaper in Abakan: $961 a month against $1,922 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moscow, Russia
Abakan, Russia
Moscow
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,922
/mo nomad
Abakan
🇷🇺 Russia
$961
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moscow and in Abakan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moscow and in Abakan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,922 per month in Moscow vs $961 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Moscow $1,922
  • Abakan $961

A couple spends around $2,941 per month in Moscow vs $1,491 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Moscow $2,941
  • Abakan $1,491

A family of three spends $3,960 per month in Moscow vs $2,022 in Abakan, rent included.

  • Moscow $3,960
  • Abakan $2,022

Moscow costs about 100% more than Abakan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Moscow sits 41% above the global median, while Abakan is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.50 ₽1,007
$11.59 ₽934
7.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 ₽4,932
$34.29 ₽2,762
78.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ₽616
$6.61 ₽532
15.73%
Cappuccino
$3.84 ₽309
$3.08 ₽248
24.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₽140
$1.15 ₽92.2
51.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ₽68.7
$0.49 ₽39.30
73.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 ₽389
$1.78 ₽143
171.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 ₽417
$3.01 ₽243
71.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ₽107
$1.33 ₽107
-0.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 ₽83.9
$0.84 ₽67.8
23.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 ₽143
$2.03 ₽163
-12.81%
Eggs
$2.02 ₽163
$1.88 ₽151
7.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.08 ₽1,215
$12.97 ₽1,045
16.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.86 ₽552
$6.11 ₽492
12.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 ₽1,231
$11.83 ₽953
29.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 ₽172
$2.15 ₽173
-0.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ₽148
$1.92 ₽155
-4.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 ₽163
$2.22 ₽179
-8.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.14 ₽333
$3.31 ₽266
25.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 ₽75.9
$0.60 ₽48.55
56.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 ₽61.9
$0.60 ₽48.18
28.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ₽136
$1.25 ₽100
35.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₽81.2
$0.77 ₽61.8
31.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 ₽299
$2.69 ₽217
37.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 ₽985
$8.05 ₽648
51.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 ₽101
$0.95 ₽76.9
32.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 ₽220
$1.52 ₽123
79.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ₽77.3
$0.45 ₽36.27
113.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.33 ₽3,489
$30.98 ₽2,495
39.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.68 ₽296
$2.42 ₽195
52.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 ₽67.5
$0.38 ₽30.57
121.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.33 ₽993
$5.82 ₽469
111.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 ₽77.3
$0.95 ₽76.9
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4K ₽3.7M
$46.0K ₽3.7M
-1.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2K ₽3.3M
$44.5K ₽3.6M
-7.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 ₽16.0K
$81.7 ₽6,577
143.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04 ₽728
$6.55 ₽527
38.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05 ₽809
$9.55 ₽769
5.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.51 ₽3,584
$37.30 ₽3,004
19.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.40 ₽3,817
$21.83 ₽1,758
117.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.63 ₽776
$6.47 ₽521
48.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$898 ₽72.3K
$349 ₽28.1K
157.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.3K ₽2.4M
$5,938 ₽478.2K
393.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$117 ₽9,397
$43.54 ₽3,506
168.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.4 ₽5,587
$54.5 ₽4,388
27.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$153 ₽12.3K
$108 ₽8,664
42.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$188 ₽15.1K
$80.2 ₽6,456
134.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,533 ₽123.5K
$359 ₽28.9K
326.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$860 ₽69.3K
$245 ₽19.7K
251.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,127 ₽251.8K
$547 ₽44.0K
471.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,552 ₽125.0K
$373 ₽30.0K
315.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.5K ₽844.3K
$2,357 ₽189.8K
344.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,981 ₽401.2K
$1,721 ₽138.6K
189.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Abakan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,798 ₽144.8K
$627 ₽50.5K
186.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.58
21.45
-8.72%

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

Last update for Moscow: October 25, 2026

Last update for Abakan: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moscow
$860
Abakan
$245 71.5% $615
Groceries & Markets
Moscow
$274
Abakan
$231 15.7% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
$237
Abakan
$129 45.8% $109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
$218
Abakan
$98 55.1% $120
Eating Out
Moscow
$214
Abakan
$171 20.1% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
$64
Abakan
$50 21.2% $14
Getting Around
Moscow
$55
Abakan
$37 32.6% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,533 in Moscow versus $359 in Abakan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Moscow are about 2.9 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Moscow versus $34 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $231 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Moscow
🇷🇺 Abakan
🕒 Local time
13:19 1:19 PM
17:19 5:19 PM
4 h ahead of Moscow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,700,000 Capital
187,239
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.87 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moscow Abakan 3,380 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Moscow
  • Abakan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Moscow vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abakan cheaper than Moscow?
Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 100%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,883 per month in Moscow and $1,441 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $359 there versus $1,533 in Moscow.
What are total monthly expenses in Moscow and in Abakan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,922 in Moscow and $961 in Abakan. That makes Abakan about 50% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 29% less in Abakan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is Moscow or Abakan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abakan – 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 Abakan. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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