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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,689 per month in Moscow vs $973 in Elista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Moscow vs $1,486 in Elista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,475 per month in Moscow vs $1,999 in Elista, rent included.

Moscow costs about 74% more than Elista, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Elista is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.95 ₽938

$9.55 ₽692

35.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.0 ₽4,130

$38.72 ₽2,806

47.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 ₽457

$5.80 ₽420

8.79%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽240

$2.29 ₽166

44.54%

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

$1.40 ₽101

$1.12 ₽81.0

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽45.62

$0.52 ₽37.49

21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 ₽315

$1.42 ₽103

206.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₽328

$2.50 ₽181

81.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 ₽97.6

$1.16 ₽84.0

16.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽64.3

$0.70 ₽51.0

27.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 ₽122

$1.39 ₽101

20.86%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽134

$1.76 ₽128

5.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.94 ₽937

$10.61 ₽769

21.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 ₽437

$4.82 ₽350

24.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 ₽883

$8.73 ₽632

39.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽140

$1.73 ₽126

12.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₽150

$1.87 ₽136

10.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ₽164

$1.92 ₽139

18.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ₽293

$2.76 ₽200

46.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽71.3

$0.83 ₽60.4

18.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ₽57.6

$0.68 ₽49.25

16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽122

$1.37 ₽99.1

23.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₽57.5

$0.67 ₽48.38

17.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽234

$2.97 ₽216

8.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 ₽789

$4.19 ₽304

159.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₽80.7

$1.02 ₽73.6

8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₽175

$1.91 ₽138

26.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₽65.3

$0.49 ₽35.53

83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.34 ₽2,778

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ₽182

$1.85 ₽134

35.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₽32.46

$0.36 ₽25.82

25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽574

$6.37 ₽461

24.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽59.3

$0.72 ₽52.2

13.89%

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

$37.4K ₽2.7M

$34.7K ₽2.5M

7.95%

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

$36.6K ₽2.7M

$35.0K ₽2.5M

4.55%

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

$150 ₽10.9K

$109 ₽7,865

37.97%

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

$8.15 ₽591

$6.11 ₽442

33.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.04 ₽582

$7.60 ₽551

5.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 ₽3,423

$35.79 ₽2,593

31.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 ₽2,490

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 ₽468

$4.98 ₽361

29.52%

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

$698 ₽50.5K

$319 ₽23.1K

118.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.1M

$7,122 ₽516.1K

106.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ₽6,349

$68.9 ₽4,990

27.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 ₽3,823

$45.22 ₽3,277

16.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,461

$114 ₽8,249

14.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 ₽11.6K

$106 ₽7,713

50.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,310 ₽94.9K

$446 ₽32.3K

193.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 ₽53.6K

$301 ₽21.8K

145.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,942 ₽213.2K

$774 ₽56.1K

279.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 ₽104.0K

$502 ₽36.4K

185.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₽859.3K

$2,271 ₽164.5K

422.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,856 ₽351.8K

$1,569 ₽113.7K

209.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,014 ₽145.9K

$404 ₽29.3K

398.01%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Elista: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,310 in Moscow versus $446 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 398% 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 $57.0 in Moscow versus $39.00 in Elista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $189 – 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 Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,533 per month in Moscow and $1,460 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 $57.0 in Moscow and $39.00 in Elista. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $973, than in Moscow at $1,689. 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.