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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,732 per month in Moscow vs $867 in Elista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,677 per month in Moscow vs $1,388 in Elista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,622 per month in Moscow vs $1,909 in Elista, rent included.

Moscow costs about 100% more than Elista, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Elista is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

$6.56 ₽551

78.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

$47.08 ₽3,957

25.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

$6.28 ₽528

10.03%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$2.55 ₽214

38.82%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$0.95 ₽80.2

64.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.55 ₽46.60

41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

$1.08 ₽90.9

337.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

$1.73 ₽146

172.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$0.96 ₽80.5

23.96%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$0.57 ₽48.13

68.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$1.06 ₽88.8

56.60%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$1.33 ₽112

42.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$7.02 ₽590

86.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$4.56 ₽383

34.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

$11.09 ₽932

27.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

$1.20 ₽101

61.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

$1.43 ₽120

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

$1.41 ₽119

39.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

$2.40 ₽201

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

$0.75 ₽63.3

20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

$0.49 ₽41.39

40.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

$0.36 ₽30.37

333.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

$0.60 ₽50.2

41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$2.65 ₽223

20.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

$8.58 ₽721

36.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

$1.04 ₽87.3

9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

$1.84 ₽155

26.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.49 ₽41.05

93.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$2.52 ₽212

41.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

$0.34 ₽28.30

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

$3.57 ₽300

188.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.82 ₽69.1

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$25.8K ₽2.2M

42.63%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$30.6K ₽2.6M

21.64%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

$81.3 ₽6,832

125.15%

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

$8.74 ₽735

$5.76 ₽484

51.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

$7.43 ₽624

25.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,257

$33.83 ₽2,844

14.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,719

$23.21 ₽1,951

90.61%

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽681

$4.05 ₽340

100.00%

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

$765 ₽64.3K

$288 ₽24.2K

165.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

$5,938 ₽499.1K

315.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,511

$69.2 ₽5,813

46.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

$44.18 ₽3,713

35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

$52.3 ₽4,394

169.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

$96.3 ₽8,096

78.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

$463 ₽38.9K

208.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

$305 ₽25.6K

149.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

$711 ₽59.7K

304.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

$490 ₽41.2K

195.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽853.3K

$1,972 ₽165.7K

414.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽373.0K

$1,380 ₽116.0K

221.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽143.5K

$350 ₽29.4K

387.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

21.33

-6.89%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Elista: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,429 in Moscow versus $463 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 388% 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 $59.0 in Moscow versus $47.00 in Elista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $172 – 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 100%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,598 per month in Moscow and $1,300 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 $59.0 in Moscow and $47.00 in Elista. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $867, than in Moscow at $1,732. 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.