Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Khimki

For one person, living is cheaper in Khimki: $948 a month against $1,887 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moscow
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,887
/mo nomad
Khimki
🇷🇺 Russia
$948
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moscow and in Khimki

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moscow and in Khimki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,887 in Moscow versus $948 in Khimki.

  • Moscow $1,887
  • Khimki $948

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,893 in Moscow versus $1,469 in Khimki.

  • Moscow $2,893
  • Khimki $1,469

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,899 in Moscow versus $1,990 in Khimki.

  • Moscow $3,899
  • Khimki $1,990

Living in Moscow is roughly 99% more expensive than in Khimki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 39% above, Khimki is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.20 ₽1,018
$5.87 ₽490
107.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3 ₽4,952
$30.02 ₽2,505
97.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.06 ₽589
$8.02 ₽669
-11.97%
Cappuccino
$3.90 ₽326
$2.76 ₽230
41.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₽142
$0.94 ₽78.2
80.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 ₽71.6
$0.60 ₽49.79
43.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.92 ₽411
$1.02 ₽84.8
382.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.23 ₽437
$1.43 ₽120
265.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ₽103
$0.96 ₽80.3
28.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ₽85.2
$0.83 ₽69.0
22.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 ₽147
$1.24 ₽104
42.74%
Eggs
$1.97 ₽164
$1.57 ₽131
25.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.72 ₽1,229
$8.84 ₽738
66.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.97 ₽582
$5.17 ₽432
34.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.33 ₽1,279
$12.32 ₽1,028
24.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 ₽179
$1.58 ₽132
36.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 ₽150
$1.42 ₽118
26.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 ₽171
$1.59 ₽133
28.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 ₽333
$2.63 ₽219
51.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 ₽77.6
$0.71 ₽59.4
30.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₽59.8
$0.38 ₽31.54
89.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 ₽138
$1.47 ₽123
12.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₽83.6
$0.44 ₽36.50
127.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 ₽301
$2.15 ₽180
67.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.11 ₽1,011
$7.25 ₽605
67.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₽103
$0.77 ₽64.7
59.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 ₽220
$1.49 ₽124
77.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ₽83.6
$0.55 ₽45.82
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.43 ₽3,541
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.57 ₽298
$2.47 ₽206
44.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 ₽67.7
$0.20 ₽16.96
305.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.22 ₽1,020
$3.69 ₽308
231.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ₽78.5
$0.80 ₽66.5
17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.9K ₽3.7M
$52.0K ₽4.3M
-15.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K ₽3.3M
$41.3K ₽3.4M
-4.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 ₽16.2K
$105 ₽8,780
85.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.83 ₽737
$3.68 ₽307
139.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.13 ₽845
$4.72 ₽394
114.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.77 ₽3,570
$40.80 ₽3,406
4.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.27 ₽3,779
$21.88 ₽1,826
106.90%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48 ₽791
$5.94 ₽496
59.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$850 ₽70.9K
$181 ₽15.1K
368.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.1K ₽2.4M
$3,663 ₽305.7K
693.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 ₽9,237
$42.40 ₽3,539
161.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.4 ₽5,709
$24.37 ₽2,034
180.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$148 ₽12.4K
$143 ₽11.9K
3.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$184 ₽15.4K
$123 ₽10.2K
50.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,480 ₽123.5K
$479 ₽40.0K
208.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$846 ₽70.6K
$319 ₽26.6K
165.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,083 ₽257.3K
$887 ₽74.0K
247.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,542 ₽128.7K
$572 ₽47.8K
169.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.1K ₽844.1K
$2,244 ₽187.3K
350.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,782 ₽399.1K
$1,521 ₽126.9K
214.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Khimki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,743 ₽145.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.56
20
-2.20%

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

Last update for Moscow: October 19, 2026

Last update for Khimki: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moscow
$846
Khimki
$319 62.3% $528
Groceries & Markets
Moscow
$271
Khimki
$190 29.9% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
$230
Khimki
$150 35% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
$214
Khimki
$114 46.8% $100
Eating Out
Moscow
$211
Khimki
$118 43.9% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
$62
Khimki
$53 14.7% $9
Getting Around
Moscow
$54
Khimki
$5.7 * 89.5% $48

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,480 in Moscow and $479 in Khimki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Moscow vs $30.00 in Khimki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $190 per month, with Khimki cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Moscow
🇷🇺 Khimki
🕒 Local time
14:38 2:38 PM
14:38 2:38 PM
Same time as Moscow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,700,000 Capital
232,066
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moscow Khimki 19 km
From you
  • Moscow
  • Khimki

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Khimki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moscow or Khimki?
Khimki wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Moscow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khimki the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Moscow and in Khimki?
You'd need roughly $2,831 in Moscow and $1,422 in Khimki to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Moscow compared to Khimki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,480 in Moscow versus $479 in Khimki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Moscow or in Khimki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Moscow compared to Khimki?
All in, you'll spend $1,887 per month in Moscow versus $948 in Khimki – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Moscow or in Khimki?
At $948 in Khimki versus $1,887 in Moscow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khimki but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Khimki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Moscow or Khimki?
Both work as nomad bases, but Khimki delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $948 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Khimki hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Khimki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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