Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Elista Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Elista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Moscow vs $943 in Elista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,596 per month in Moscow vs $1,460 in Elista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,554 per month in Moscow vs $1,976 in Elista, rent included.

Moscow costs about 74% more than Elista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Elista is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,020

$9.80 ₽782

30.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,590

$38.12 ₽3,041

50.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽501

$5.78 ₽461

8.65%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽264

$2.29 ₽183

44.54%

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

$1.42 ₽114

$1.11 ₽88.7

27.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.5

$0.49 ₽38.93

36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽345

$1.35 ₽108

220.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$2.47 ₽197

83.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽103

$1.15 ₽91.7

12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.5

$0.67 ₽53.1

34.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.36 ₽109

24.26%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$1.78 ₽142

5.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,035

$10.66 ₽850

21.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽478

$4.94 ₽394

21.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽953

$8.69 ₽693

37.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽149

$1.74 ₽139

6.90%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽164

$1.87 ₽150

9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$1.93 ₽154

18.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽320

$2.75 ₽219

45.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽82.1

$0.85 ₽67.7

21.18%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.5

$0.67 ₽53.4

20.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.36 ₽108

24.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.5

$0.67 ₽53.3

19.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽248

$2.89 ₽231

7.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,013

$3.81 ₽304

233.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.5

$0.94 ₽75.1

19.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.87 ₽149

29.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.7

$0.52 ₽41.79

65.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,017

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽199

$1.93 ₽154

29.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.45

$0.35 ₽27.94

25.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽632

$6.50 ₽519

22.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.3

$0.78 ₽62.6

5.13%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$33.7K ₽2.7M

10.99%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$35.4K ₽2.8M

2.06%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$110 ₽8,789

36.77%

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

$8.00 ₽638

$5.88 ₽469

36.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽624

$7.72 ₽616

1.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,743

$36.16 ₽2,885

29.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,745

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽494

$5.00 ₽399

23.80%

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

$697 ₽55.6K

$326 ₽26.0K

113.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$7,024 ₽560.4K

109.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,086

$69.2 ₽5,523

28.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,224

$43.67 ₽3,484

21.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$114 ₽9,059

17.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$106 ₽8,432

53.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.3K

$451 ₽36.0K

197.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.9K

$307 ₽24.5K

140.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.5K

$759 ₽60.5K

290.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.4K

$504 ₽40.2K

184.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽863.9K

$2,587 ₽206.4K

318.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽369.1K

$1,635 ₽130.4K

182.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽143.1K

$386 ₽30.8K

364.56%

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 Elista: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,344 in Moscow versus $451 in Elista. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 365% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Moscow versus $38.00 in Elista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $188 – making Elista 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 Elista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,458 per month in Moscow and $1,415 in Elista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Elista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Moscow and $38.00 in Elista. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elista, where all-in costs run around $943, than in Moscow at $1,638. In Elista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Elista – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Elista. 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.