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: $1,683 in Moscow versus $997 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,643 in Moscow versus $1,403 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,603 in Moscow versus $1,808 in Korolyov.

Living in Moscow is roughly 69% more expensive than in Korolyov, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 26% above, Korolyov is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.68 ₽996

$8.84 ₽694

43.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ₽4,500

$20.46 ₽1,607

179.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₽504

$5.27 ₽414

21.82%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ₽262

$2.04 ₽160

63.73%

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

$1.39 ₽109

$0.86 ₽67.2

61.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.2

$0.39 ₽30.70

74.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 ₽347

$4.15 ₽326

6.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₽345

$1.85 ₽145

137.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽100.0

$1.19 ₽93.7

6.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₽69.3

$0.42 ₽32.80

109.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽133

$1.31 ₽103

29.01%

Eggs

$1.92 ₽151

$1.62 ₽127

18.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ₽1,051

$11.81 ₽928

13.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 ₽483

$5.49 ₽431

12.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 ₽964

$7.98 ₽627

53.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽153

$1.94 ₽152

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ₽163

$1.69 ₽132

22.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₽181

$2.37 ₽186

-2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 ₽330

$3.99 ₽313

5.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ₽78.4

$0.41 ₽32.19

143.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ₽67.5

$0.84 ₽66.0

2.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 ₽130

$1.65 ₽129

0.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽59.2

$0.52 ₽41.12

44.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₽245

$2.46 ₽193

26.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 ₽1,002

$10.46 ₽822

21.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₽85.1

$1.08 ₽84.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₽184

$1.47 ₽115

59.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽68.0

$0.75 ₽58.7

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 ₽2,934

$22.46 ₽1,764

66.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ₽202

$2.58 ₽202

-0.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽34.64

$0.47 ₽36.97

-6.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₽632

$7.91 ₽622

1.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽63.2

$0.77 ₽60.7

3.90%

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

$37.8K ₽3.0M

$37.6K ₽3.0M

0.36%

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

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$20.6K ₽1.6M

75.30%

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

$150 ₽11.8K

$123 ₽9,683

21.47%

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

$8.15 ₽640

$5.53 ₽434

47.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 ₽639

$7.91 ₽621

2.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 ₽3,755

$31.58 ₽2,481

51.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.23 ₽2,768

$15.51 ₽1,219

127.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 ₽498

$5.34 ₽420

18.54%

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

$694 ₽54.5K

$691 ₽54.3K

0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₽1.2M

$14.4K ₽1.1M

2.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 ₽6,859

$57.9 ₽4,547

50.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 ₽4,158

$25.60 ₽2,011

106.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽10.4K

$38.34 ₽3,012

244.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.9K

$57.6 ₽4,523

184.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₽105.7K

$450 ₽35.3K

199.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₽59.4K

$367 ₽28.8K

106.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 ₽232.8K

$698 ₽54.8K

324.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 ₽108.8K

$488 ₽38.3K

183.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.0K ₽865.0K

$2,644 ₽207.7K

316.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,689 ₽368.3K

$2,315 ₽181.9K

102.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,779 ₽139.8K

$1,055 ₽82.8K

68.71%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,346 in Moscow and $450 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 69% 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 $252 vs $209 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 69% 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.

Average pay runs 69% 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: $1,346 in Moscow versus $450 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 66% less than in Moscow. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $694 in Moscow versus $691 in Korolyov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $997 in Korolyov versus $1,683 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 $997 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 69% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.