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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Moscow vs $1,019 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,596 per month in Moscow vs $1,524 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,554 per month in Moscow vs $2,030 in Murmansk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 61% more than Murmansk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,020

$9.48 ₽756

34.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,590

$38.60 ₽3,079

49.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽501

$5.42 ₽433

15.87%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽264

$1.91 ₽152

73.30%

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

$1.42 ₽114

$0.93 ₽74.2

52.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.5

$0.70 ₽55.9

-4.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽345

$1.43 ₽114

202.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$2.47 ₽197

83.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽103

$1.24 ₽98.8

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.5

$0.78 ₽62.3

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.51 ₽120

11.92%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$2.32 ₽185

-19.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,035

$10.66 ₽851

21.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽478

$4.79 ₽382

25.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽953

$8.95 ₽714

33.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽149

$1.93 ₽154

-3.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽164

$1.94 ₽155

5.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$2.32 ₽185

-1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽320

$5.00 ₽399

-19.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽82.1

$1.05 ₽83.6

-1.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.5

$0.72 ₽57.7

12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.36 ₽109

24.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.5

$1.43 ₽114

-44.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽248

$3.42 ₽272

-9.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,013

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.5

$1.01 ₽80.4

10.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.92 ₽153

26.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.7

$0.61 ₽48.90

40.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,017

$17.33 ₽1,383

118.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽199

$2.00 ₽160

24.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.45

$2.17 ₽173

-79.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽632

$4.62 ₽369

71.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.3

$0.72 ₽57.7

13.89%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$34.8K ₽2.8M

7.40%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$36.1K ₽2.9M

0.07%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$109 ₽8,721

37.84%

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

$8.00 ₽638

$5.64 ₽450

41.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽624

$11.49 ₽917

-31.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,743

$35.97 ₽2,870

30.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,745

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽494

$4.18 ₽334

48.09%

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

$697 ₽55.6K

$328 ₽26.1K

112.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$6,987 ₽557.4K

110.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,086

$54.9 ₽4,380

61.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,224

$43.98 ₽3,509

20.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$112 ₽8,958

19.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$107 ₽8,567

50.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.3K

$438 ₽35.0K

206.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.9K

$322 ₽25.7K

128.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.5K

$628 ₽50.1K

372.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.4K

$448 ₽35.8K

219.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽863.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽369.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽143.1K

$1,092 ₽87.1K

64.26%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,344 in Moscow versus $438 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 64% 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 $58.0 in Moscow versus $39.00 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $210 – 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 61% 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 $2,458 per month in Moscow and $1,529 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 118% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $697 per month in Moscow and $328 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 $1,019, than in Moscow at $1,638. 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 $1,019 versus $1,638 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.