Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Apatity Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Apatity

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Moscow vs $987 in Apatity, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,632 per month in Moscow vs $1,540 in Apatity, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,558 per month in Moscow vs $2,093 in Apatity, rent included.

Moscow costs about 73% more than Apatity, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.97 ₽1,002
$9.78 ₽819
22.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.4 ₽5,139
$36.89 ₽3,089
66.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.36 ₽616
$6.02 ₽504
22.26%
Cappuccino
$3.62 ₽303
$2.70 ₽226
34.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₽128
$1.12 ₽93.4
36.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₽63.8
$0.57 ₽47.97
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 ₽414
$1.85 ₽155
167.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 ₽397
$2.98 ₽250
59.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₽101
$1.14 ₽95.8
6.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 ₽84.0
$0.72 ₽60.1
38.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 ₽139
$1.31 ₽110
26.72%
Eggs
$1.84 ₽154
$1.59 ₽133
15.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 ₽1,052
$10.96 ₽918
14.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.27 ₽525
$5.09 ₽426
23.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.59 ₽1,138
$9.91 ₽830
37.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2.09 ₽175
$1.68 ₽141
24.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 ₽146
$1.80 ₽151
-2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 ₽152
$1.75 ₽147
4.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 ₽316
$2.84 ₽238
32.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₽72.4
$0.79 ₽66.4
8.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₽52.5
$0.59 ₽49.60
6.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 ₽130
$1.35 ₽113
14.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 ₽72.4
$0.71 ₽59.4
21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16 ₽265
$2.89 ₽242
9.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.98 ₽919
$7.34 ₽615
49.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ₽98.5
$1.02 ₽85.1
15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ₽200
$1.91 ₽160
24.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₽85.4
$0.50 ₽41.54
104.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.77 ₽3,581
$21.75 ₽1,821
96.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ₽311
$2.17 ₽182
70.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ₽48.60
$0.38 ₽31.62
52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.32 ₽781
$5.39 ₽451
72.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₽74.3
$0.79 ₽66.1
12.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K ₽3.0M
$30.2K ₽2.5M
19.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K ₽3.1M
$29.9K ₽2.5M
22.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 ₽15.7K
$115 ₽9,661
62.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.62 ₽722
$6.22 ₽521
38.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.00 ₽754
$8.17 ₽685
10.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.47 ₽3,222
$36.12 ₽3,024
6.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.24 ₽3,704
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.32 ₽613
$5.32 ₽445
37.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$763 ₽63.9K
$310 ₽25.9K
146.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.4K ₽1.7M
$6,833 ₽572.2K
198.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.6 ₽7,503
$59.6 ₽4,987
50.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 ₽4,784
$44.56 ₽3,731
28.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 ₽11.7K
$107 ₽8,991
30.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 ₽13.8K
$102 ₽8,533
62.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,453 ₽121.7K
$445 ₽37.3K
226.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$748 ₽62.7K
$308 ₽25.8K
142.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,915 ₽244.1K
$768 ₽64.3K
279.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,389 ₽116.3K
$537 ₽45.0K
158.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.0K ₽838.4K
$2,135 ₽178.8K
368.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,472 ₽374.5K
$1,460 ₽122.3K
206.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Apatity
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,675 ₽140.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.8
27.67
-28.44%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 18, 2026

Last update for Apatity: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,453 in Moscow versus $445 in Apatity. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Moscow versus $37.00 in Apatity. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $200 – making Apatity 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
Moscow vs Apatity: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apatity cheaper than Moscow?
Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,560 per month in Moscow and $1,481 in Apatity. 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 Apatity, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 97% less in Apatity. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $763 per month in Moscow and $310 in Apatity. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Moscow or in Apatity?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Apatity, where all-in costs run around $987, than in Moscow at $1,707. In Apatity it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Moscow or Apatity more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Apatity – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Moscow or Apatity?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Apatity. 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.

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