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: $1,649 in Moscow versus $979 in Kislovodsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,609 in Moscow versus $1,509 in Kislovodsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Moscow versus $2,039 in Kislovodsk.

Living in Moscow is roughly 68% more expensive than 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

$12.58 ₽944

$9.64 ₽723

30.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.9 ₽4,272

$37.83 ₽2,838

50.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 ₽479

$5.84 ₽438

9.42%

Cappuccino

$3.30 ₽248

$2.33 ₽175

41.63%

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

$1.38 ₽103

$1.12 ₽84.3

23.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 ₽46.89

$0.52 ₽39.14

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.45 ₽334

$1.36 ₽102

227.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 ₽323

$2.50 ₽187

72.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 ₽101

$1.11 ₽83.5

21.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 ₽61.6

$0.66 ₽49.50

24.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₽133

$1.42 ₽107

24.65%

Eggs

$1.93 ₽145

$1.73 ₽130

11.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 ₽971

$11.01 ₽826

17.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.86 ₽440

$4.89 ₽367

19.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 ₽925

$8.98 ₽674

37.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽142

$1.74 ₽131

9.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽158

$1.87 ₽141

12.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 ₽177

$1.96 ₽147

19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 ₽298

$2.66 ₽200

49.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽74.4

$0.78 ₽58.8

26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 ₽62.4

$0.72 ₽54.3

15.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽129

$1.40 ₽105

22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽56.2

$0.67 ₽50.4

11.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽236

$2.98 ₽224

5.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 ₽811

$6.77 ₽508

59.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₽84.9

$0.95 ₽71.2

18.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₽177

$1.94 ₽145

21.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽64.2

$0.53 ₽39.57

62.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.35 ₽2,877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽189

$1.93 ₽145

30.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽32.88

$0.33 ₽24.70

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 ₽617

$6.22 ₽467

32.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽60.3

$0.77 ₽57.5

3.90%

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

$38.6K ₽2.9M

$34.9K ₽2.6M

10.77%

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

$37.3K ₽2.8M

$35.0K ₽2.6M

6.57%

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

$153 ₽11.4K

$111 ₽8,354

37.06%

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

$7.97 ₽598

$5.81 ₽436

37.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.90 ₽593

$7.68 ₽576

2.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.94 ₽3,598

$35.59 ₽2,670

34.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.18 ₽2,640

Cinema Ticket

$6.22 ₽466

$5.13 ₽385

21.25%

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

$685 ₽51.4K

$329 ₽24.7K

108.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ₽1.1M

$6,969 ₽522.9K

114.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.9 ₽6,447

$70.3 ₽5,274

22.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 ₽3,937

$44.97 ₽3,374

16.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽9,916

$114 ₽8,574

15.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.3K

$105 ₽7,905

55.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 ₽97.5K

$453 ₽34.0K

186.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₽57.1K

$299 ₽22.4K

154.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,982 ₽223.8K

$749 ₽56.2K

298.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,427 ₽107.1K

$512 ₽38.4K

178.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽876.6K

$2,109 ₽158.2K

453.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,863 ₽365.0K

$1,482 ₽111.2K

228.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,845 ₽138.5K

$836 ₽62.7K

120.78%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,299 in Moscow and $453 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 121% 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 in Moscow vs $38 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $245 vs $195 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 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Moscow pays 121% more on average, 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: $1,299 in Moscow versus $453 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 $1,649 per month in Moscow versus $979 in Kislovodsk – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $979 in Kislovodsk versus $1,649 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 68% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.