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: $1,648 in Moscow versus $979 in Abaza.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,603 in Moscow versus $1,497 in Abaza.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Moscow versus $2,015 in Abaza.

Living in Moscow is roughly 68% more expensive than Abaza, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 23% above, Abaza is 27% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽943

$9.67 ₽705

33.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,146

$38.33 ₽2,798

48.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽458

$5.78 ₽422

8.65%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽231

$2.37 ₽173

33.33%

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

$1.38 ₽101

$1.07 ₽78.2

28.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽49.71

$0.52 ₽37.60

30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽331

$1.36 ₽99.2

233.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽329

$2.57 ₽187

75.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽96.8

$0.59 ₽42.94

125.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽64.8

$0.65 ₽47.19

36.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽129

$1.42 ₽104

23.94%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽135

$1.80 ₽131

2.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽942

$10.92 ₽797

18.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽430

$4.80 ₽350

22.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽893

$9.03 ₽659

35.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽138

$1.74 ₽127

8.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽154

$1.81 ₽132

16.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽172

$1.98 ₽145

19.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽303

$2.67 ₽195

55.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽71.6

$0.85 ₽61.7

15.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$0.68 ₽49.54

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽125

$1.41 ₽103

21.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.3

$0.72 ₽52.4

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽227

$2.88 ₽210

7.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽795

$8.26 ₽603

31.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$1.00 ₽73.2

9.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽173

$1.93 ₽141

22.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽63.7

$0.49 ₽36.09

77.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽184

$1.94 ₽142

29.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.51

$0.35 ₽25.70

34.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽591

$6.28 ₽458

28.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.2

$0.77 ₽56.5

5.19%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$34.2K ₽2.5M

11.60%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$36.2K ₽2.6M

2.55%

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

$151 ₽11.0K

$110 ₽8,034

37.10%

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

$7.97 ₽582

$5.83 ₽426

36.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽583

$7.93 ₽578

0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,416

$36.16 ₽2,639

29.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,531

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽457

$5.01 ₽366

24.95%

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

$707 ₽51.6K

$328 ₽23.9K

115.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$6,889 ₽502.8K

110.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,414

$69.3 ₽5,059

26.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,892

$43.60 ₽3,182

22.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,527

$113 ₽8,260

15.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.6K

$106 ₽7,732

49.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽96.1K

$438 ₽32.0K

200.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽53.5K

$300 ₽21.9K

144.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽219.3K

$769 ₽56.2K

290.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽101.7K

$514 ₽37.5K

170.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽856.4K

$2,555 ₽186.5K

359.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽366.9K

$1,719 ₽125.5K

192.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽151.5K

$1,375 ₽100.4K

50.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

15.33

59.10%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Abaza: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,317 in Moscow and $438 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 51% 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 $38.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $193 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Moscow pays 51% more on average, 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: $1,317 in Moscow versus $438 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $707 in Moscow versus $328 in Abaza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $57.0 in Moscow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $979 in Abaza versus $1,648 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 68% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.