Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Korolyov Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Korolyov

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,648 in Moscow versus $1,030 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,603 in Moscow versus $1,441 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Moscow versus $1,852 in Korolyov.

Living in Moscow is roughly 60% more expensive than Korolyov, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽943

$8.93 ₽652

44.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,146

$20.26 ₽1,479

180.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽458

$5.31 ₽388

18.27%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽231

$1.99 ₽145

58.79%

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

$1.38 ₽101

$0.91 ₽66.1

51.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽49.71

$0.36 ₽26.59

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽331

$4.12 ₽301

10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽329

$1.86 ₽136

142.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽96.8

$1.13 ₽82.7

17.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽64.8

$0.45 ₽32.59

97.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽129

$1.30 ₽94.8

35.38%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽135

$1.60 ₽117

15.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽942

$12.07 ₽881

6.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽430

$5.21 ₽380

13.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽893

$7.83 ₽572

56.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽138

$1.88 ₽137

0.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽154

$1.62 ₽118

30.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽172

$2.27 ₽166

3.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽303

$3.99 ₽291

4.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽71.6

$0.40 ₽29.14

145.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$0.81 ₽59.1

4.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽125

$1.63 ₽119

5.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.3

$0.56 ₽40.93

44.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽227

$2.49 ₽181

24.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽795

$11.17 ₽815

-2.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$1.08 ₽79.1

0.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽173

$1.48 ₽108

60.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽63.7

$0.74 ₽54.0

17.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,793

$22.25 ₽1,624

71.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽184

$2.48 ₽181

1.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.51

$0.44 ₽32.46

6.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽591

$8.21 ₽600

-1.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.2

$0.75 ₽54.7

8.00%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$38.9K ₽2.8M

-1.89%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$20.1K ₽1.5M

84.90%

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

$151 ₽11.0K

$126 ₽9,227

19.38%

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

$7.97 ₽582

$5.63 ₽411

41.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽583

$8.10 ₽591

-1.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,416

$32.27 ₽2,356

45.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,531

$15.22 ₽1,111

127.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽457

$5.54 ₽404

13.00%

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

$707 ₽51.6K

$712 ₽51.9K

-0.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$14.6K ₽1.1M

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,414

$57.3 ₽4,183

53.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,892

$25.55 ₽1,865

108.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,527

$38.45 ₽2,806

239.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.6K

$56.8 ₽4,147

179.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽96.1K

$466 ₽34.0K

182.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽53.5K

$368 ₽26.8K

99.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽219.3K

$702 ₽51.2K

328.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽101.7K

$487 ₽35.6K

185.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽856.4K

$2,766 ₽201.9K

324.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽366.9K

$2,540 ₽185.4K

97.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽151.5K

$1,114 ₽81.3K

86.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

62.60%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,317 in Moscow and $466 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 86% 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 $20.00 in Korolyov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $247 vs $208 per month, with Korolyov 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 Korolyov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Korolyov wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Moscow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Korolyov the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Moscow pays 86% 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: $1,317 in Moscow versus $466 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Korolyov runs roughly 72% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $707 in Moscow versus $712 in Korolyov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,030 in Korolyov versus $1,648 in Moscow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Korolyov but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Korolyov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Korolyov delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,030 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Korolyov hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Moscow and Korolyov 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 Korolyov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.