Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kursk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Kursk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Moscow vs $969 in Kursk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,392 in Kursk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,557 per month in Moscow vs $1,815 in Kursk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 70% more than Kursk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Kursk is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽943

$8.91 ₽651

44.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,146

$25.45 ₽1,858

123.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽458

$5.66 ₽413

10.95%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽231

$2.01 ₽147

57.21%

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

$1.38 ₽101

$0.90 ₽65.9

53.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽49.71

$0.44 ₽32.34

54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽331

$1.10 ₽80.0

312.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽329

$2.24 ₽164

101.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽96.8

$1.16 ₽84.8

14.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽64.8

$0.73 ₽53.2

21.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽129

$1.33 ₽97.4

32.33%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽135

$1.78 ₽130

3.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽942

$8.91 ₽650

44.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽430

$4.53 ₽331

30.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽893

$8.61 ₽629

42.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽138

$1.26 ₽91.7

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽154

$1.54 ₽113

37.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽172

$2.30 ₽168

2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽303

$3.50 ₽255

18.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽71.6

$0.97 ₽71.2

1.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$0.65 ₽47.27

30.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽125

$1.37 ₽99.8

25.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.3

$0.73 ₽53.0

10.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽227

$3.12 ₽228

-0.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽795

$8.20 ₽599

32.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$0.91 ₽66.5

19.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽173

$1.82 ₽133

30.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽63.7

$0.34 ₽25.15

155.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽184

$4.96 ₽362

-49.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.51

$0.54 ₽39.72

-12.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽591

$3.79 ₽276

113.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.2

$0.74 ₽53.7

9.46%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$38.8K ₽2.8M

-1.86%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$41.0K ₽3.0M

-9.36%

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

$151 ₽11.0K

$99.8 ₽7,283

51.24%

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

$7.97 ₽582

$3.88 ₽283

105.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽583

$5.56 ₽406

43.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,416

$24.79 ₽1,809

88.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,531

$15.27 ₽1,115

127.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽457

$7.55 ₽551

-17.09%

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

$707 ₽51.6K

$129 ₽9,439

446.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$7,046 ₽514.3K

106.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,414

$61.4 ₽4,478

43.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,892

$37.80 ₽2,759

41.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,527

$118 ₽8,612

10.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.6K

$125 ₽9,113

27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽96.1K

$508 ₽37.1K

159.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽53.5K

$313 ₽22.9K

134.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽219.3K

$827 ₽60.4K

263.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽101.7K

$413 ₽30.2K

237.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽856.4K

$1,658 ₽121.0K

607.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽366.9K

$1,270 ₽92.7K

295.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽151.5K

$825 ₽60.2K

151.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

103.25%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kursk: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Moscow versus $508 in Kursk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 152% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Moscow versus $25.00 in Kursk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $192 – making Kursk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kursk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,648 in Moscow, $969 in Kursk – roughly 70% apart. Moscow costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,473 per month in Moscow and $1,454 in Kursk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kursk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,648 in Moscow and $969 in Kursk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $707 per month in Moscow and $129 in Kursk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kursk, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Moscow at $1,648. In Kursk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Moscow has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $969 in Kursk to $1,648 in Moscow. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kursk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.