Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kislovodsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kislovodsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,638 in Moscow versus $970 in Kislovodsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,618 in Moscow versus $1,479 in Kislovodsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,598 in Moscow versus $1,989 in Kislovodsk.

Living in Moscow is roughly 69% more expensive than in Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 23% above, Kislovodsk is 27% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.64 ₽982

$9.24 ₽718

36.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.6 ₽4,398

$38.71 ₽3,008

46.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.19 ₽481

$5.87 ₽456

5.45%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₽259

$2.27 ₽177

46.70%

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

$1.42 ₽110

$1.13 ₽87.8

25.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽49.09

$0.52 ₽40.03

21.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 ₽335

$1.37 ₽106

214.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 ₽348

$2.49 ₽193

79.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 ₽104

$1.14 ₽88.7

17.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽69.6

$0.65 ₽50.8

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₽137

$1.43 ₽111

23.78%

Eggs

$1.90 ₽148

$1.71 ₽133

11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 ₽1,004

$10.88 ₽846

18.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 ₽452

$4.92 ₽382

18.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.91 ₽925

$8.89 ₽691

33.97%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽147

$1.81 ₽141

4.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 ₽159

$1.88 ₽146

8.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 ₽177

$1.99 ₽155

14.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₽315

$2.80 ₽218

45.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽77.1

$0.84 ₽65.1

17.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ₽61.4

$0.66 ₽51.5

19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 ₽133

$1.42 ₽110

20.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽63.2

$0.72 ₽55.8

12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₽242

$2.85 ₽222

9.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.87 ₽1,000

$7.07 ₽550

82.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽87.4

$1.02 ₽79.4

9.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₽183

$1.88 ₽146

25.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₽70.1

$0.49 ₽37.97

83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.49 ₽2,992

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ₽200

$1.87 ₽145

37.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽36.57

$0.33 ₽25.60

42.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.31 ₽646

$6.31 ₽491

31.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽61.6

$0.73 ₽56.5

8.22%

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

$38.3K ₽3.0M

$34.0K ₽2.6M

12.54%

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

$36.1K ₽2.8M

$35.4K ₽2.8M

1.88%

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

$153 ₽11.9K

$109 ₽8,460

40.36%

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

$7.93 ₽616

$5.84 ₽454

35.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.88 ₽612

$7.82 ₽608

0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.43 ₽3,609

$35.00 ₽2,720

32.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.38 ₽2,672

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 ₽508

$5.21 ₽405

25.53%

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

$695 ₽54.0K

$320 ₽24.9K

117.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ₽1.1M

$6,993 ₽543.5K

109.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₽6,740

$70.8 ₽5,506

22.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 ₽4,213

$44.52 ₽3,461

21.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₽10.3K

$116 ₽8,992

14.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 ₽12.7K

$105 ₽8,184

54.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,350 ₽105.0K

$451 ₽35.1K

199.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₽57.1K

$308 ₽23.9K

139.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,958 ₽229.9K

$759 ₽59.0K

289.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 ₽109.2K

$513 ₽39.9K

173.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.6K ₽826.3K

$2,284 ₽177.5K

365.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,678 ₽363.6K

$1,518 ₽118.0K

208.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,700 ₽132.2K

$805 ₽62.6K

111.18%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,350 in Moscow and $451 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 111% 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 $39.00 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $198 per month, with Kislovodsk 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 Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kislovodsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 111% 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: $1,350 in Moscow versus $451 in Kislovodsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,638 per month in Moscow versus $970 in Kislovodsk – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $970 in Kislovodsk versus $1,638 in Moscow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kislovodsk but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Kislovodsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kislovodsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Moscow, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Moscow and Kislovodsk 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 Kislovodsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.