Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Astrakhan Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Astrakhan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,732 in Moscow versus $836 in Astrakhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,677 in Moscow versus $1,263 in Astrakhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,622 in Moscow versus $1,690 in Astrakhan.

Living in Moscow is roughly 107% more expensive than in Astrakhan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 26% above, Astrakhan is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

$8.56 ₽719

36.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

$35.43 ₽2,977

66.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

$6.42 ₽540

7.63%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$1.97 ₽165

79.70%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$1.08 ₽90.4

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.64 ₽54.1

21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

$1.14 ₽95.7

314.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

$2.28 ₽192

106.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.13 ₽95.2

5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$0.59 ₽49.41

62.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$0.80 ₽67.5

107.50%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$1.58 ₽133

19.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$10.36 ₽871

26.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$4.17 ₽350

47.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

$5.69 ₽479

148.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

$1.23 ₽104

57.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

$1.61 ₽136

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

$1.45 ₽122

35.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

$1.85 ₽155

116.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

$1.00 ₽84.5

-10.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

$0.69 ₽58.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

$0.85 ₽71.3

83.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

$0.42 ₽35.55

102.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$1.72 ₽145

86.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

$3.43 ₽288

241.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

$0.83 ₽69.6

37.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.51 ₽42.55

86.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

$20.51 ₽1,724

97.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$2.24 ₽188

59.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

$0.59 ₽50.0

15.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

$3.57 ₽300

188.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.76 ₽64.0

7.89%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$25.5K ₽2.1M

44.45%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$27.9K ₽2.3M

33.62%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

$58.1 ₽4,883

214.97%

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

$8.74 ₽735

$5.86 ₽493

49.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

$8.18 ₽688

14.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,257

$20.47 ₽1,720

89.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,719

$4.57 ₽384

868.05%

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽681

$4.19 ₽352

93.32%

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

$765 ₽64.3K

$105 ₽8,852

626.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

$6,335 ₽532.4K

289.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,511

$40.10 ₽3,370

152.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

$35.31 ₽2,967

69.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

$68.7 ₽5,777

105.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

$52.1 ₽4,376

229.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

$465 ₽39.0K

207.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

$347 ₽29.2K

119.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

$649 ₽54.5K

343.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

$519 ₽43.7K

179.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽853.3K

$1,186 ₽99.7K

756.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽373.0K

$581 ₽48.8K

664.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽143.5K

$372 ₽31.3K

358.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

4.53%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Astrakhan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,429 in Moscow and $465 in Astrakhan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 359% 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: $59.0 in Moscow vs $35.00 in Astrakhan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $150 per month, with Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow and Astrakhan differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,732 vs $836 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 359% 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: $1,429 in Moscow versus $465 in Astrakhan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 98% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $765 in Moscow versus $105 in Astrakhan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $836 in Astrakhan versus $1,732 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.