Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Murmansk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Murmansk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,689 per month in Moscow vs $998 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Moscow vs $1,523 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,475 per month in Moscow vs $2,048 in Murmansk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 69% more than Murmansk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.95 ₽931

$9.47 ₽681

36.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.0 ₽4,098

$38.66 ₽2,779

47.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.31 ₽454

$5.44 ₽391

15.99%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽238

$1.92 ₽138

72.40%

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

$1.40 ₽100

$0.86 ₽62.0

62.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽45.27

$0.66 ₽47.23

-4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.35 ₽313

$1.41 ₽101

208.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 ₽325

$2.53 ₽182

79.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 ₽96.9

$1.22 ₽87.9

10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽63.8

$0.76 ₽54.3

17.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 ₽121

$1.48 ₽106

13.51%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽133

$2.23 ₽160

-17.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.94 ₽930

$10.76 ₽774

20.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 ₽433

$4.74 ₽341

27.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 ₽876

$8.67 ₽624

40.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽139

$1.93 ₽139

0.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₽148

$1.86 ₽133

10.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ₽163

$2.30 ₽166

-1.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 ₽291

$5.22 ₽375

-22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽70.7

$0.99 ₽71.2

-1.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ₽57.1

$0.67 ₽47.93

17.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽121

$1.36 ₽97.5

24.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₽57.0

$1.38 ₽99.2

-42.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽232

$3.52 ₽253

-8.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 ₽783

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₽80.0

$1.00 ₽72.2

11.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 ₽174

$1.93 ₽139

24.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₽64.8

$0.64 ₽46.14

40.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.34 ₽2,757

$16.84 ₽1,211

127.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ₽180

$2.04 ₽147

23.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 ₽32.21

$2.07 ₽149

-78.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽570

$4.45 ₽320

78.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽58.8

$0.79 ₽56.8

3.80%

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

$37.4K ₽2.7M

$34.4K ₽2.5M

8.85%

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

$36.6K ₽2.6M

$35.4K ₽2.5M

3.47%

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

$150 ₽10.8K

$108 ₽7,765

38.66%

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

$8.15 ₽586

$5.80 ₽417

40.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.04 ₽578

$11.60 ₽834

-30.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.24 ₽3,396

$35.21 ₽2,532

34.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 ₽2,470

Cinema Ticket

$6.45 ₽464

$4.08 ₽294

58.09%

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

$698 ₽50.2K

$327 ₽23.5K

113.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.1M

$6,870 ₽493.9K

114.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.6 ₽6,299

$53.2 ₽3,825

64.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.8 ₽3,794

$45.01 ₽3,236

17.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,388

$115 ₽8,256

13.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 ₽11.5K

$105 ₽7,562

52.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,310 ₽94.2K

$450 ₽32.3K

191.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$740 ₽53.2K

$314 ₽22.6K

136.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,942 ₽211.5K

$630 ₽45.3K

366.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,435 ₽103.2K

$451 ₽32.4K

218.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₽852.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,856 ₽349.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,014 ₽144.8K

$1,137 ₽81.8K

77.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

17.17

42.05%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 6, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,310 in Moscow versus $450 in Murmansk. 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 77% 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 $39.00 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $208 – making Murmansk 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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 69% more than Murmansk, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,533 per month in Moscow and $1,497 in Murmansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 128% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Moscow and $327 in Murmansk. 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 Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Moscow at $1,689. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Murmansk costs $998 versus $1,689 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Murmansk. 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.