Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Moscow vs $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,776 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,557 per month in Moscow vs $2,420 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

Moscow costs about 46% more than Nizhny Novgorod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Nizhny Novgorod is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽953

$11.28 ₽832

14.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,192

$38.77 ₽2,861

46.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽463

$5.60 ₽414

12.14%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽233

$2.66 ₽196

18.80%

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

$1.38 ₽102

$1.30 ₽95.8

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽50.3

$0.42 ₽31.33

61.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽335

$1.03 ₽76.3

340.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽333

$3.14 ₽232

43.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽97.9

$1.05 ₽77.5

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽65.5

$0.57 ₽42.26

56.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽130

$1.31 ₽97.0

34.35%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽137

$1.53 ₽113

20.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽952

$10.59 ₽782

21.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽435

$4.74 ₽350

24.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽903

$8.94 ₽660

36.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽140

$1.75 ₽129

8.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽156

$1.68 ₽124

25.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽174

$1.96 ₽144

20.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽306

$2.51 ₽185

65.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽72.4

$0.71 ₽52.1

38.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽62.4

$0.71 ₽52.7

19.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽127

$1.20 ₽88.9

43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.78 ₽57.8

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽229

$2.92 ₽216

6.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽804

$11.14 ₽822

-2.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽80.1

$1.17 ₽86.3

-6.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽175

$2.17 ₽160

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽64.4

$0.53 ₽39.44

64.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,824

$16.96 ₽1,252

125.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽186

$1.86 ₽137

35.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.89

$0.55 ₽40.82

-14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽597

$7.55 ₽557

7.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.79 ₽58.0

2.53%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$41.4K ₽3.1M

-7.95%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$31.7K ₽2.3M

17.24%

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

$151 ₽11.1K

$111 ₽8,204

35.73%

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

$7.97 ₽588

$5.52 ₽407

44.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽590

$7.45 ₽550

7.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,454

$31.67 ₽2,337

47.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,559

$16.12 ₽1,189

115.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽462

$6.22 ₽459

0.64%

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

$707 ₽52.1K

$332 ₽24.5K

112.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$3,874 ₽285.9K

274.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,484

$81.6 ₽6,021

7.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,935

$77.5 ₽5,719

-31.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,631

$147 ₽10.8K

-10.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.7K

$113 ₽8,326

40.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽97.2K

$578 ₽42.7K

127.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽54.1K

$368 ₽27.2K

99.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽221.7K

$984 ₽72.6K

205.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽102.8K

$735 ₽54.3K

89.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽865.8K

$4,267 ₽314.9K

174.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽370.9K

$2,623 ₽193.5K

91.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽153.1K

$948 ₽69.9K

119.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

16.46

48.18%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Moscow versus $578 in Nizhny Novgorod. 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 119% 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 Nizhny Novgorod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $199 – making Nizhny Novgorod 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 Nizhny Novgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 46% more than Nizhny Novgorod, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,473 per month in Moscow and $1,697 in Nizhny Novgorod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 126% less in Nizhny Novgorod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $707 per month in Moscow and $332 in Nizhny Novgorod. 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 Nizhny Novgorod, where all-in costs run around $1,131, than in Moscow at $1,648. In Nizhny Novgorod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Nizhny Novgorod costs $1,131 versus $1,648 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Nizhny Novgorod. 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.