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: $1,707 in Moscow versus $1,259 in Korolyov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,604 in Moscow versus $1,831 in Korolyov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,501 in Moscow versus $2,403 in Korolyov.

Living in Moscow is roughly 36% more expensive than in Korolyov, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 24% above, Korolyov is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

$11.47 ₽984

-0.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$58.0 ₽4,974

-1.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$7.10 ₽609

-1.97%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$2.37 ₽203

46.41%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$0.67 ₽57.5

128.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$0.42 ₽36.46

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$0.80 ₽68.4

485.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$1.38 ₽118

244.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.18 ₽101

-0.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.88 ₽75.6

10.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$1.14 ₽98.1

41.23%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$1.24 ₽106

49.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$11.72 ₽1,005

8.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$5.41 ₽464

15.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$11.77 ₽1,010

14.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$1.92 ₽165

-1.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.47 ₽126

16.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$1.77 ₽152

9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$2.73 ₽234

44.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$0.61 ₽52.5

34.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.64 ₽54.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$0.94 ₽80.8

67.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.81 ₽69.2

7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.86 ₽245

10.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$9.23 ₽792

26.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$1.12 ₽96.1

3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$2.37 ₽203

1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.97 ₽83.6

-5.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$1.50 ₽129

134.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.70 ₽60.1

-1.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

$9.05 ₽777

-1.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.84 ₽71.9

1.19%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$20.5K ₽1.8M

79.49%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$26.8K ₽2.3M

42.28%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$121 ₽10.4K

49.14%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$4.54 ₽390

81.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$7.95 ₽682

19.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$140 ₽12.0K

-73.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$5.18 ₽445

52.32%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$758 ₽65.1K

-2.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

$22.0K ₽1.9M

2.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$58.2 ₽4,998

64.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$29.02 ₽2,490

104.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$93.9 ₽8,054

44.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$170 ₽14.6K

-0.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$517 ₽44.4K

169.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$439 ₽37.7K

69.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$788 ₽67.6K

254.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$525 ₽45.1K

166.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$2,335 ₽200.4K

329.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$2,066 ₽177.3K

113.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$954 ₽81.8K

74.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

17.5

13.49%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Korolyov: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,393 in Moscow and $517 in Korolyov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Moscow pays 75% 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 $58.0 in Korolyov. Groceries flip the comparison at $246 vs $212, with Korolyov cheaper for home cooking.

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 36% 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 75% 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: $1,393 in Moscow versus $517 in Korolyov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Moscow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,707 per month in Moscow versus $1,259 in Korolyov – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,259 in Korolyov versus $1,707 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 $1,259 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 36% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.