Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Arzamas Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Arzamas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,638 in Moscow versus $954 in Arzamas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,596 in Moscow versus $1,466 in Arzamas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,554 in Moscow versus $1,978 in Arzamas.

Living in Moscow is roughly 72% more expensive than in Arzamas, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 23% above, Arzamas is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,018

$9.35 ₽745

36.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,579

$37.43 ₽2,979

53.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽499

$5.73 ₽456

9.60%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽263

$2.25 ₽179

47.11%

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

$1.42 ₽113

$1.12 ₽88.8

26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.4

$0.51 ₽40.67

31.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽344

$1.40 ₽112

208.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$2.49 ₽198

82.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽102

$1.12 ₽88.8

15.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.3

$0.65 ₽52.1

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.37 ₽109

23.36%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$1.70 ₽135

10.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,033

$10.80 ₽859

20.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽477

$4.92 ₽391

21.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽951

$8.71 ₽693

37.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽148

$1.72 ₽137

8.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽163

$1.88 ₽150

9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$1.98 ₽157

15.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽319

$2.71 ₽215

47.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽81.9

$0.83 ₽66.2

24.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.3

$0.66 ₽52.9

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.40 ₽112

20.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.3

$0.72 ₽57.3

11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽247

$2.85 ₽227

8.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,011

$6.46 ₽514

96.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.3

$1.01 ₽80.0

10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.88 ₽150

29.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.6

$0.53 ₽42.05

62.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,010

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽198

$1.91 ₽152

30.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.37

$0.33 ₽26.23

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽631

$6.51 ₽518

21.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.1

$0.77 ₽61.3

6.49%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$33.9K ₽2.7M

10.29%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$35.4K ₽2.8M

2.31%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$107 ₽8,553

40.23%

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

$8.00 ₽636

$5.82 ₽463

37.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽623

$7.94 ₽632

-1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,734

$35.86 ₽2,854

30.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,739

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽493

$5.11 ₽407

21.14%

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

$697 ₽55.5K

$325 ₽25.9K

114.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$7,044 ₽560.7K

108.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,069

$70.2 ₽5,587

26.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,214

$45.06 ₽3,586

17.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$114 ₽9,058

17.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$106 ₽8,408

53.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.0K

$448 ₽35.6K

200.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.7K

$300 ₽23.9K

146.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.0K

$758 ₽60.3K

291.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.1K

$501 ₽39.9K

186.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽861.9K

$2,008 ₽159.8K

439.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽368.3K

$1,434 ₽114.1K

222.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽142.8K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Arzamas: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,344 in Moscow and $448 in Arzamas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Moscow vs $37.00 in Arzamas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $194 per month, with Arzamas 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 Arzamas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow and Arzamas differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($1,638 vs $954 including rent). Arzamas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,458 in Moscow and $1,431 in Arzamas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,344 in Moscow versus $448 in Arzamas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,638 per month in Moscow versus $954 in Arzamas – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $954 in Arzamas versus $1,638 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arzamas but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Arzamas 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 Arzamas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.