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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,732 per month in Moscow vs $892 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,677 per month in Moscow vs $1,209 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,622 per month in Moscow vs $1,527 in Murmansk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 94% more than Murmansk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Murmansk is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

$5.94 ₽499

16.33%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$2.88 ₽242

22.92%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$0.84 ₽70.2

85.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.66 ₽55.2

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.13 ₽94.9

5.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$1.04 ₽87.2

-7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$1.22 ₽103

36.07%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$2.27 ₽191

-16.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$21.13 ₽1,776

-37.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$3.30 ₽277

85.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.57 ₽47.51

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

$30.14 ₽2,533

34.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$2.30 ₽193

55.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

$4.97 ₽418

107.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.86 ₽71.9

-4.65%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$30.8K ₽2.6M

19.46%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$20.7K ₽1.7M

80.02%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

$150 ₽12.6K

22.12%

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

$8.74 ₽735

$7.60 ₽639

15.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

$5.94 ₽500

57.58%

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

$172 ₽14.5K

-41.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

$46.08 ₽3,873

29.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

$173 ₽14.5K

-18.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

$81.2 ₽6,828

111.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

$412 ₽34.6K

246.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

$294 ₽24.7K

159.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

$590 ₽49.6K

387.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

$400 ₽33.6K

262.79%

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

$978 ₽82.2K

74.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

-33.80%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,429 in Moscow versus $412 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 75% higher in Moscow, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 94% 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 $2,598 per month in Moscow and $1,338 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,732 in Moscow and $892 in Murmansk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 117% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Moscow at $1,732. 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 $892 versus $1,732 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.