Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kaluga Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kaluga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,638 in Moscow versus $790 in Kaluga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,596 in Moscow versus $1,228 in Kaluga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,554 in Moscow versus $1,665 in Kaluga.

Living in Moscow is roughly 107% more expensive than in Kaluga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 23% above, Kaluga is 41% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,018

$5.56 ₽442

130.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,579

$22.22 ₽1,769

158.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽499

$5.00 ₽398

25.60%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽263

$2.08 ₽165

59.13%

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

$1.42 ₽113

$1.31 ₽105

8.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.4

$0.52 ₽41.18

28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽344

$1.43 ₽114

202.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$3.07 ₽245

47.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽102

$1.05 ₽83.6

22.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.3

$0.67 ₽53.5

34.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.48 ₽117

14.19%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$1.71 ₽136

9.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,033

$8.12 ₽646

59.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽477

$3.84 ₽305

55.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽951

$7.52 ₽598

58.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽148

$1.85 ₽147

0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽163

$1.68 ₽133

22.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$1.91 ₽152

19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽319

$3.14 ₽250

27.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽81.9

$0.77 ₽61.6

33.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.3

$0.66 ₽52.9

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$3.16 ₽251

-46.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.3

$0.64 ₽51.3

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽247

$2.86 ₽228

8.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,011

$8.93 ₽710

42.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.3

$0.73 ₽57.8

53.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.95 ₽155

24.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.6

$0.45 ₽36.16

91.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,010

$18.75 ₽1,492

101.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽198

$3.76 ₽299

-33.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.37

$0.11 ₽8.53

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽631

$6.25 ₽498

26.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.1

$0.73 ₽58.3

12.33%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$34.7K ₽2.8M

7.81%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$35.8K ₽2.9M

1.01%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$76.3 ₽6,071

97.55%

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

$8.00 ₽636

$5.72 ₽456

39.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽623

$4.97 ₽396

57.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,734

$35.23 ₽2,804

33.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,739

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽493

$7.71 ₽614

-19.71%

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

$697 ₽55.5K

$354 ₽28.2K

96.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$6,934 ₽551.9K

112.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,069

$72.8 ₽5,794

22.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,214

$38.27 ₽3,046

38.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$114 ₽9,076

17.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$75.8 ₽6,030

113.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.0K

$254 ₽20.2K

429.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.7K

$198 ₽15.8K

272.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.0K

$445 ₽35.4K

566.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.1K

$338 ₽26.9K

324.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽861.9K

$1,587 ₽126.3K

582.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽368.3K

$1,364 ₽108.6K

239.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽142.8K

$799 ₽63.6K

124.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

14.5

68.21%

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

Last update for Moscow: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kaluga: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,344 in Moscow and $254 in Kaluga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 125% 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: $58.0 in Moscow vs $22.00 in Kaluga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $188 per month, with Kaluga 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 Kaluga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow and Kaluga differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,638 vs $790 including rent). Kaluga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 125% 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: $1,344 in Moscow versus $254 in Kaluga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kaluga runs roughly 102% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $697 in Moscow versus $354 in Kaluga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $790 in Kaluga versus $1,638 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaluga but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Kaluga 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.

Safety-wise, Moscow and Kaluga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kaluga 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.