Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,683 per month in Moscow vs $958 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,643 per month in Moscow vs $1,485 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,603 per month in Moscow vs $2,011 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Moscow costs about 76% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Makhachkala is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.68 ₽996

$15.57 ₽1,223

-18.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ₽4,500

$39.54 ₽3,107

44.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₽504

$5.20 ₽409

23.46%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ₽262

$3.30 ₽259

1.21%

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

$1.39 ₽109

$0.80 ₽62.6

73.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.2

$0.35 ₽27.76

94.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 ₽347

$1.42 ₽112

211.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₽345

$2.50 ₽196

75.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽100.0

$1.50 ₽118

-15.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₽69.3

$0.65 ₽51.2

35.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽133

$1.43 ₽112

18.18%

Eggs

$1.92 ₽151

$1.37 ₽108

40.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ₽1,051

$3.09 ₽243

333.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 ₽483

$4.73 ₽372

30.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 ₽964

$5.00 ₽393

145.40%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽153

$1.81 ₽142

7.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ₽163

$1.68 ₽132

23.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₽181

$2.75 ₽216

-16.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 ₽330

$1.82 ₽143

130.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ₽78.4

$0.83 ₽65.2

20.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ₽67.5

$0.45 ₽35.16

91.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 ₽130

$2.43 ₽191

-31.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽59.2

$0.58 ₽45.63

29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₽245

$3.14 ₽247

-0.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 ₽1,002

$3.82 ₽300

234.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₽85.1

$1.04 ₽81.4

3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₽184

$1.95 ₽153

20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽68.0

$0.40 ₽31.36

117.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 ₽2,934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ₽202

$2.24 ₽176

14.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽34.64

$0.18 ₽14.02

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₽632

$6.51 ₽511

23.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽63.2

$0.71 ₽55.8

12.68%

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

$37.8K ₽3.0M

$36.0K ₽2.8M

4.82%

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

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$31.0K ₽2.4M

16.39%

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

$150 ₽11.8K

$54.2 ₽4,257

176.32%

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

$8.15 ₽640

$6.31 ₽496

29.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 ₽639

$9.63 ₽757

-15.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 ₽3,755

$46.00 ₽3,613

3.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.23 ₽2,768

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 ₽498

$5.09 ₽400

24.36%

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

$694 ₽54.5K

$164 ₽12.9K

322.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₽1.2M

$6,965 ₽547.2K

113.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 ₽6,859

$104 ₽8,179

-16.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 ₽4,158

$45.22 ₽3,552

17.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽10.4K

$104 ₽8,209

26.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.9K

$144 ₽11.3K

13.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₽105.7K

$497 ₽39.0K

170.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₽59.4K

$298 ₽23.4K

154.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 ₽232.8K

$720 ₽56.6K

311.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 ₽108.8K

$402 ₽31.6K

244.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.0K ₽865.0K

$1,666 ₽130.9K

560.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,689 ₽368.3K

$1,210 ₽95.1K

287.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,779 ₽139.8K

$830 ₽65.2K

114.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

11.33

115.27%

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

Last update for Moscow: July 13, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,346 in Moscow versus $497 in Makhachkala. 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 114% 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 $40.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $157 – making Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Moscow is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,525 per month in Moscow and $1,437 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, 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 $1,683 in Moscow and $958 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $694 per month in Moscow and $164 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Moscow at $1,683. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. 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.