Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kazan Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kazan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,648 in Moscow versus $1,093 in Kazan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,603 in Moscow versus $1,692 in Kazan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Moscow versus $2,291 in Kazan.

Living in Moscow is roughly 51% more expensive than Kazan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 23% above, Kazan is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91 ₽953
$7.47 ₽551
72.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8 ₽4,192
$38.40 ₽2,833
47.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 ₽463
$6.40 ₽472
-1.88%
Cappuccino
$3.16 ₽233
$3.06 ₽226
3.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 ₽102
$1.12 ₽82.6
23.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₽50.3
$0.78 ₽57.3
-12.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.54 ₽335
$3.85 ₽284
17.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51 ₽333
$4.73 ₽349
-4.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 ₽97.9
$1.08 ₽79.4
23.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₽65.5
$0.72 ₽53.4
23.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 ₽130
$1.46 ₽108
20.55%
Eggs
$1.85 ₽137
$1.95 ₽144
-5.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 ₽952
$10.98 ₽810
17.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.89 ₽435
$4.82 ₽356
22.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.24 ₽903
$9.36 ₽691
30.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 ₽140
$1.94 ₽143
-2.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 ₽156
$1.94 ₽143
8.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₽174
$2.42 ₽179
-2.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 ₽306
$2.38 ₽175
74.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 ₽72.4
$0.66 ₽48.99
48.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.85 ₽62.4
$0.59 ₽43.62
44.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.72 ₽127
$1.52 ₽112
13.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₽59.9
$0.60 ₽44.58
35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 ₽229
$3.26 ₽241
-4.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.90 ₽804
$8.95 ₽660
21.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₽80.1
$0.99 ₽73.4
10.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 ₽175
$1.89 ₽140
25.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 ₽64.4
$0.57 ₽41.83
52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.26 ₽2,824
$25.24 ₽1,862
51.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 ₽186
$1.24 ₽91.8
103.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ₽34.89
$0.25 ₽18.45
88.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.10 ₽597
$5.59 ₽412
44.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 ₽59.9
$0.71 ₽52.4
14.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K ₽2.8M
$37.9K ₽2.8M
0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K ₽2.7M
$44.5K ₽3.3M
-16.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 ₽11.1K
$104 ₽7,692
44.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.97 ₽588
$5.71 ₽421
39.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99 ₽590
$6.47 ₽477
23.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.81 ₽3,454
$23.77 ₽1,754
96.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.68 ₽2,559
$18.74 ₽1,383
85.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.26 ₽462
$5.72 ₽422
9.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$707 ₽52.1K
$254 ₽18.8K
178.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K ₽1.1M
$7,002 ₽516.7K
107.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9 ₽6,484
$66.2 ₽4,887
32.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 ₽3,935
$43.92 ₽3,241
21.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 ₽9,631
$104 ₽7,707
24.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 ₽11.7K
$100 ₽7,401
58.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,317 ₽97.2K
$626 ₽46.2K
110.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$734 ₽54.1K
$424 ₽31.3K
72.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,005 ₽221.7K
$1,040 ₽76.7K
189.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,393 ₽102.8K
$684 ₽50.5K
103.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.7K ₽865.8K
$4,848 ₽357.7K
142.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,027 ₽370.9K
$2,879 ₽212.5K
74.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,075 ₽153.1K
$976 ₽72.0K
112.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.39
18.15
34.38%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kazan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,317 in Moscow and $626 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 113% 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: $57.0 in Moscow vs $38.00 in Kazan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $203 per month, with Kazan 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 Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Moscow and Kazan?
Moscow and Kazan differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,648 vs $1,093 including rent). Kazan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Moscow or Kazan?
Moscow pays 113% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Moscow and Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,317 in Moscow versus $626 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kazan – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $57.0 in Moscow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Moscow or Kazan?
All in, you'll spend $1,648 per month in Moscow versus $1,093 in Kazan – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,093 in Kazan versus $1,648 in Moscow, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kazan but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Kazan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Moscow and Kazan?
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.
Is Moscow or Kazan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Moscow and Kazan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Moscow or Kazan?
Expats usually find Kazan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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