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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,685 per month in Moscow vs $966 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,583 per month in Moscow vs $1,476 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,482 per month in Moscow vs $1,987 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Moscow costs about 74% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 25% above the global median, while Makhachkala is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.76 ₽970

$15.62 ₽1,188

-18.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 ₽4,463

$38.69 ₽2,943

51.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.37 ₽485

$5.19 ₽395

22.74%

Cappuccino

$3.23 ₽245

$3.24 ₽246

-0.31%

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

$1.38 ₽105

$0.84 ₽63.6

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽50.9

$0.35 ₽26.81

91.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.53 ₽345

$1.37 ₽104

230.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 ₽333

$2.57 ₽195

70.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽96.8

$1.51 ₽115

-15.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ₽64.5

$0.65 ₽49.55

30.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ₽127

$1.38 ₽105

21.01%

Eggs

$1.94 ₽148

$1.38 ₽105

40.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 ₽993

$2.99 ₽227

336.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 ₽450

$4.81 ₽366

23.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.90 ₽905

$5.05 ₽384

135.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽147

$1.82 ₽138

6.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽161

$1.77 ₽134

19.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ₽172

$2.80 ₽213

-19.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.12 ₽313

$1.91 ₽145

115.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽75.5

$0.82 ₽62.2

20.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.78 ₽59.4

$0.49 ₽36.98

59.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 ₽130

$2.48 ₽189

-31.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽57.4

$0.60 ₽45.39

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.21 ₽244

$3.23 ₽245

-0.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 ₽802

$8.61 ₽655

22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₽81.4

$1.00 ₽76.3

7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽177

$1.86 ₽142

25.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₽69.1

$0.42 ₽32.02

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.54 ₽2,855

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 ₽192

$2.23 ₽170

13.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₽33.98

$0.22 ₽16.69

104.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.99 ₽608

$6.50 ₽494

22.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽62.2

$0.71 ₽53.9

15.49%

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

$37.5K ₽2.8M

$35.5K ₽2.7M

5.59%

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

$37.0K ₽2.8M

$30.0K ₽2.3M

23.30%

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

$152 ₽11.5K

$54.3 ₽4,130

179.39%

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

$8.21 ₽624

$6.32 ₽481

29.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.89 ₽600

$9.94 ₽756

-20.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.72 ₽3,629

$47.60 ₽3,620

0.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.06 ₽2,666

Cinema Ticket

$6.50 ₽494

$5.02 ₽382

29.48%

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

$696 ₽53.0K

$169 ₽12.9K

311.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ₽1.1M

$6,894 ₽524.3K

116.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.8 ₽6,678

$103 ₽7,818

-14.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.5 ₽4,068

$44.15 ₽3,358

21.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 ₽10.2K

$104 ₽7,877

29.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.5K

$145 ₽11.1K

12.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,299 ₽98.8K

$498 ₽37.9K

160.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₽57.6K

$304 ₽23.1K

148.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,901 ₽220.6K

$700 ₽53.2K

314.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 ₽108.3K

$411 ₽31.3K

246.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₽905.2K

$1,683 ₽128.0K

607.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,828 ₽367.1K

$1,217 ₽92.6K

296.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,826 ₽138.9K

$621 ₽47.3K

193.83%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,299 in Moscow versus $498 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 194% 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 $59 in Moscow versus $39 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $244 vs $168 – 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 74%, 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 $2,527 per month in Moscow and $1,448 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 $1,685 in Moscow and $966 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $696 per month in Moscow and $169 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 $966, than in Moscow at $1,685. 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.