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: $1,732 in Moscow versus $995 in Kislovodsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,677 in Moscow versus $1,569 in Kislovodsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,622 in Moscow versus $2,142 in Kislovodsk.

Living in Moscow is roughly 74% more expensive than in Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 26% above, Kislovodsk is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽998

$10.59 ₽902

10.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽5,029

$36.54 ₽3,114

61.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽589

$6.63 ₽565

4.22%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽302

$2.59 ₽221

36.68%

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

$1.56 ₽133

$1.10 ₽93.8

41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.3

$0.55 ₽47.12

41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽403

$1.73 ₽147

173.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽401

$3.21 ₽273

46.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽102

$1.12 ₽95.7

6.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽82.1

$0.76 ₽64.8

26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽141

$1.29 ₽110

28.68%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽161

$1.42 ₽121

33.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,118

$11.02 ₽940

19.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽523

$4.96 ₽423

23.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,204

$10.35 ₽882

36.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽165

$1.68 ₽143

15.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽146

$2.00 ₽170

-14.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽167

$1.84 ₽157

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽341

$2.67 ₽228

49.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽76.7

$0.74 ₽63.5

21.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽58.5

$0.57 ₽48.69

21.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽133

$1.47 ₽125

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽72.1

$0.80 ₽67.9

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽273

$2.84 ₽242

12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽998

$7.32 ₽624

59.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽97.0

$0.98 ₽83.1

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽198

$2.03 ₽173

14.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽80.8

$0.53 ₽44.89

79.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,458

$20.99 ₽1,789

93.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽304

$2.60 ₽222

37.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.8

$0.30 ₽25.17

126.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽879

$5.38 ₽459

91.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.6

$0.78 ₽66.9

5.13%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$27.9K ₽2.4M

32.07%

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

$37.3K ₽3.2M

$28.7K ₽2.4M

29.71%

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

$183 ₽15.6K

$99.3 ₽8,460

84.36%

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

$8.74 ₽745

$6.44 ₽549

35.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽798

$7.43 ₽634

25.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,303

$34.62 ₽2,951

11.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,771

$23.33 ₽1,989

89.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽690

$5.43 ₽463

49.17%

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

$765 ₽65.2K

$316 ₽26.9K

142.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

$6,021 ₽513.2K

309.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,631

$70.9 ₽6,042

42.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,102

$48.63 ₽4,145

23.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽12.0K

$127 ₽10.8K

10.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.6K

$96.7 ₽8,240

77.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽121.8K

$519 ₽44.2K

175.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.9K

$307 ₽26.2K

148.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽245.1K

$770 ₽65.6K

273.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽123.6K

$526 ₽44.8K

175.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽865.4K

$2,222 ₽189.4K

356.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽378.3K

$1,454 ₽123.9K

205.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽145.5K

$725 ₽61.8K

135.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

-5.43%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,429 in Moscow and $519 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 135% 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 $37.00 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $202 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 135% 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 $519 in Kislovodsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Kislovodsk – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $59.0 in Moscow. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $995 in Kislovodsk versus $1,732 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 74% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.