Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Magadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Magadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,732 in Moscow versus $557 in Magadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,677 in Moscow versus $1,087 in Magadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,622 in Moscow versus $1,617 in Magadan.

Living in Moscow is roughly 211% more expensive than in Magadan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Moscow is 26% above, Magadan is 60% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

$22.85 ₽1,920

-48.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

$63.7 ₽5,353

-7.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$3.68 ₽310

-3.80%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$1.36 ₽115

14.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.91 ₽76.7

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.64 ₽138

-27.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$1.11 ₽93.1

-13.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$1.36 ₽114

22.06%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$2.88 ₽242

-34.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$13.75 ₽1,156

-4.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$9.46 ₽795

-35.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

$14.42 ₽1,212

-2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

$3.61 ₽303

-46.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

$3.34 ₽281

-48.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

$3.15 ₽265

-37.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

$7.11 ₽598

-43.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

$1.17 ₽98.4

-23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

$1.11 ₽93.0

-37.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

$0.85 ₽71.4

83.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

$1.12 ₽94.5

-24.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$2.84 ₽239

12.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

$10.87 ₽913

7.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

$1.96 ₽164

-41.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

$2.28 ₽191

2.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.99 ₽83.1

-4.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$2.84 ₽239

25.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.81 ₽68.0

1.23%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$21.4K ₽1.8M

72.41%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$32.1K ₽2.7M

15.96%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

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

$8.74 ₽735

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,257

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,719

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽681

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

$765 ₽64.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,511

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽853.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽373.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽143.5K

$938 ₽78.8K

82.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Magadan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Moscow pays 82% 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 $64.0 in Magadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $321 per month, with Moscow 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 Magadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Magadan wins on cost – living expenses run 211% lower than in Moscow. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Magadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 82% higher in Moscow, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you'll spend $1,732 per month in Moscow versus $557 in Magadan – a 211% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Moscow pay roughly 28% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $557 in Magadan versus $1,732 in Moscow, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Magadan but tight or insufficient in Moscow. The gap between the two cities makes Magadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Magadan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $557 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Magadan hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Magadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 211% less than in Moscow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.