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: $1,732 in Moscow versus $1,159 in Kazan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,677 in Moscow versus $1,784 in Kazan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,622 in Moscow versus $2,410 in Kazan.

Living in Moscow is roughly 49% more expensive than in Kazan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 26% above, Kazan is 16% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

$12.55 ₽1,055

-6.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

$37.50 ₽3,152

57.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

$5.94 ₽499

16.33%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$3.22 ₽271

9.94%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$1.38 ₽116

13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.54 ₽45.13

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

$1.70 ₽143

178.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

$2.26 ₽190

108.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.10 ₽92.3

8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$0.72 ₽60.7

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$1.44 ₽121

15.28%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$1.46 ₽123

29.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$11.08 ₽931

18.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$4.35 ₽365

40.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

$10.36 ₽870

36.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

$1.85 ₽155

4.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

$1.61 ₽135

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

$1.81 ₽152

8.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

$2.89 ₽243

38.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

$0.86 ₽72.4

4.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

$0.53 ₽44.18

30.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

$1.37 ₽115

13.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

$0.73 ₽61.6

16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$2.89 ₽243

10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

$7.35 ₽618

59.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

$1.02 ₽85.9

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

$1.86 ₽156

25.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.53 ₽44.14

79.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

$18.48 ₽1,553

119.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$2.39 ₽201

49.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

$0.54 ₽45.13

25.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

$6.79 ₽571

51.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.80 ₽67.4

2.50%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$35.0K ₽2.9M

5.28%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$41.3K ₽3.5M

-9.76%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

$124 ₽10.4K

47.84%

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

$8.74 ₽735

$6.08 ₽511

43.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

$6.78 ₽570

38.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,257

$32.26 ₽2,711

20.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,719

$28.92 ₽2,431

52.97%

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽681

$6.38 ₽537

26.96%

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

$765 ₽64.3K

$283 ₽23.8K

170.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

$6,157 ₽517.5K

300.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,511

$88.8 ₽7,461

14.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

$89.3 ₽7,506

-32.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

$104 ₽8,724

35.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

$76.2 ₽6,402

125.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

$671 ₽56.4K

112.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

$408 ₽34.3K

86.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

$1,084 ₽91.1K

165.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

$760 ₽63.9K

90.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽853.3K

$4,273 ₽359.1K

137.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽373.0K

$2,346 ₽197.2K

89.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽143.5K

$938 ₽78.8K

82.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

20.8

-4.52%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kazan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,429 in Moscow and $671 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 82% 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: $59.0 in Moscow vs $38.00 in Kazan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $198 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

Moscow and Kazan differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($1,732 vs $1,159 including rent). Kazan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 82% 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: $1,429 in Moscow versus $671 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kazan – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $59.0 in Moscow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,732 per month in Moscow versus $1,159 in Kazan – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,159 in Kazan versus $1,732 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.

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 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.

Expats usually find Kazan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.