Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Abaza Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Abaza

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,707 in Moscow versus $981 in Abaza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,604 in Moscow versus $1,535 in Abaza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,501 in Moscow versus $2,088 in Abaza.

Living in Moscow is roughly 74% more expensive than in Abaza, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 24% above, Abaza is 29% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

$9.32 ₽800

22.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$35.32 ₽3,031

62.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$5.86 ₽503

18.77%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$2.55 ₽219

36.08%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$1.08 ₽92.7

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$0.52 ₽44.33

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$1.76 ₽151

165.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$2.90 ₽249

64.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.16 ₽99.7

0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.66 ₽56.7

46.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$1.35 ₽116

19.26%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$1.47 ₽126

25.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$10.70 ₽918

18.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$4.99 ₽428

24.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$9.86 ₽846

36.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$1.63 ₽139

16.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.72 ₽148

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$1.84 ₽158

5.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$2.82 ₽242

39.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$0.82 ₽70.4

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.65 ₽55.6

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$1.27 ₽109

23.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.66 ₽56.6

31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.84 ₽244

10.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$7.11 ₽610

63.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$1.01 ₽86.8

14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$2.00 ₽172

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.50 ₽43.01

84.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

$21.70 ₽1,862

81.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$2.19 ₽188

60.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.34 ₽29.48

102.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

$5.28 ₽453

69.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.78 ₽66.8

8.97%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$29.7K ₽2.5M

24.12%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$29.6K ₽2.5M

29.06%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$112 ₽9,602

61.23%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$6.23 ₽534

31.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$8.43 ₽723

12.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$34.56 ₽2,966

6.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$5.21 ₽447

51.44%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$302 ₽25.9K

144.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

$6,829 ₽586.1K

229.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$60.0 ₽5,148

60.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$45.01 ₽3,863

31.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$108 ₽9,284

25.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$99.6 ₽8,545

69.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$428 ₽36.7K

225.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$309 ₽26.5K

140.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$777 ₽66.7K

259.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$531 ₽45.6K

163.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$2,113 ₽181.3K

375.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$1,439 ₽123.5K

206.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$1,155 ₽99.1K

44.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

21.33

-6.89%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Abaza: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,393 in Moscow and $428 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 44% 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: $57.0 in Moscow vs $35.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $196 per month, with Abaza 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

Moscow vs Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Moscow, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,393 in Moscow versus $428 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $57.0 in Moscow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $981 in Abaza versus $1,707 in Moscow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Abaza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Moscow, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Abaza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.