Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Arkhangelsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Arkhangelsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,707 in Moscow versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,604 in Moscow versus $1,673 in Arkhangelsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,501 in Moscow versus $2,271 in Arkhangelsk.

Living in Moscow is roughly 59% more expensive than in Arkhangelsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 24% above, Arkhangelsk is 22% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$46.28 ₽3,971

23.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$9.18 ₽788

-24.18%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$3.54 ₽303

-1.98%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$2.31 ₽198

-33.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$2.33 ₽200

-66.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$3.57 ₽307

31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$5.95 ₽510

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.06 ₽90.6

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.92 ₽78.6

5.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$1.79 ₽153

-10.06%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$1.62 ₽139

14.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$8.08 ₽693

57.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$5.63 ₽483

10.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$12.50 ₽1,073

7.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$2.39 ₽205

-20.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.70 ₽146

0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$1.14 ₽98.2

70.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$2.36 ₽203

66.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$0.83 ₽71.0

-1.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.45 ₽38.52

42.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$0.47 ₽40.48

234.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.55 ₽47.58

58.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.83 ₽243

11.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$8.14 ₽698

43.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$0.78 ₽67.3

48.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$2.88 ₽248

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.58 ₽49.98

58.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

$50.3 ₽4,320

-21.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$4.58 ₽393

-23.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.16 ₽13.71

331.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.82 ₽70.3

3.66%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$47.1K ₽4.0M

-21.77%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$34.2K ₽2.9M

11.45%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$108 ₽9,256

67.24%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$9.36 ₽804

-12.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$17.72 ₽1,521

-46.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$52.5 ₽4,506

-30.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

$45.63 ₽3,916

-4.62%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$9.37 ₽804

-15.80%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$176 ₽15.1K

318.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$80.8 ₽6,936

18.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$34.23 ₽2,938

73.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$91.3 ₽7,835

48.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$91.5 ₽7,852

84.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$500 ₽42.9K

178.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$379 ₽32.5K

96.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$708 ₽60.7K

294.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$615 ₽52.8K

127.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$1,471 ₽126.2K

582.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$1,109 ₽95.1K

298.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$488 ₽41.9K

241.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

-13.65%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arkhangelsk: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,393 in Moscow and $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 241% 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 $46.00 in Arkhangelsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $200 per month, with Arkhangelsk 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 Arkhangelsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow and Arkhangelsk differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,707 vs $1,076 including rent). Arkhangelsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 241% 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 $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,707 per month in Moscow versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arkhangelsk runs roughly 28% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,076 in Arkhangelsk versus $1,707 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arkhangelsk but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Arkhangelsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Arkhangelsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.