Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Noril'sk

For one person, living is cheaper in Noril’sk: $1,075 a month against $1,922 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

92

Cost of Living Index in Moscow
Learn more

Moscow Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Noril'sk
Learn more

Noril'sk Living Index

Jump to prices

Moscow

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,922

/mo nomad

Noril'sk

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,075

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moscow and in Noril'sk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moscow and in Noril'sk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,922 per month in Moscow vs $1,075 in Noril’sk, rent included.

Moscow $1,922
Noril'sk $1,075

A couple spends around $2,941 per month in Moscow vs $1,677 in Noril’sk, rent included.

Moscow $2,941
Noril'sk $1,677

A family of three spends $3,960 per month in Moscow vs $2,279 in Noril’sk, rent included.

Moscow $3,960
Noril'sk $2,279

Moscow costs about 79% more than Noril’sk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Moscow sits 41% above the global median, while Noril’sk is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.50 ₽1,008

$11.59 ₽935

7.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₽4,939

$37.72 ₽3,042

62.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ₽617

$6.44 ₽520

18.79%

Cappuccino

$3.84 ₽309

$2.75 ₽222

39.64%

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

$1.74 ₽140

$1.14 ₽92.0

52.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽68.8

$0.58 ₽46.81

46.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.83 ₽390

$1.83 ₽147

163.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 ₽417

$3.05 ₽246

69.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₽107

$1.13 ₽90.8

16.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₽84.0

$0.78 ₽62.6

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₽143

$1.43 ₽115

23.78%

Eggs

$2.02 ₽163

$1.62 ₽131

24.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 ₽1,216

$11.40 ₽919

32.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 ₽553

$5.41 ₽436

26.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.29 ₽1,233

$11.43 ₽922

33.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₽173

$1.77 ₽143

20.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₽148

$1.84 ₽148

-0.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ₽164

$1.82 ₽146

11.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 ₽334

$2.75 ₽222

50.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ₽76.0

$0.84 ₽68.0

11.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 ₽62.0

$0.57 ₽46.24

35.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽137

$1.36 ₽109

24.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₽81.3

$0.75 ₽60.5

34.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 ₽299

$2.99 ₽241

24.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 ₽986

$7.71 ₽622

58.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₽102

$1.12 ₽90.4

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₽220

$2.02 ₽163

35.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₽77.4

$0.56 ₽45.26

71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.33 ₽3,494

$23.97 ₽1,933

80.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 ₽296

$2.40 ₽194

53.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₽67.6

$0.37 ₽29.99

127.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.33 ₽994

$5.66 ₽456

117.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₽77.4

$0.86 ₽69.0

11.63%

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

$45.4K ₽3.7M

$52.1K ₽4.2M

-12.86%

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

$41.2K ₽3.3M

$40.3K ₽3.3M

2.22%

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

$199 ₽16.0K

$123 ₽9,955

61.07%

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

$9.04 ₽729

$6.31 ₽509

43.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.05 ₽810

$8.60 ₽694

16.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.51 ₽3,589

$36.30 ₽2,928

22.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.40 ₽3,823

$24.07 ₽1,941

96.93%

Cinema Ticket

$9.63 ₽777

$6.31 ₽509

52.61%

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

$898 ₽72.4K

$350 ₽28.2K

156.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K ₽2.4M

$6,303 ₽508.3K

364.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$117 ₽9,411

$82.5 ₽6,656

41.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.4 ₽5,595

$53.3 ₽4,295

30.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 ₽12.3K

$120 ₽9,718

27.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 ₽15.1K

$104 ₽8,374

80.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₽123.6K

$482 ₽38.9K

218.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₽69.4K

$317 ₽25.6K

171.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,127 ₽252.2K

$887 ₽71.6K

252.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,552 ₽125.1K

$570 ₽45.9K

172.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.5K ₽845.5K

$2,294 ₽185.0K

357.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,981 ₽401.7K

$1,517 ₽122.4K

228.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,798 ₽145.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.58

21.45

-8.72%

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

Last update for Moscow: October 25, 2026

Last update for Noril'sk: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Moscow

$860 44.7%

Noril'sk

$317 29.5% 63.1% $543

Groceries & Markets

Moscow

$274 14.3%

Noril'sk

$211 19.6% 23.1% $63

Clothing & Footwear

Moscow

$237 12.3%

Noril'sk

$162 15.1% 31.7% $75

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Moscow

$218 11.3%

Noril'sk

$138 12.9% 36.5% $80

Eating Out

Moscow

$214 11.1%

Noril'sk

$167 15.6% 21.8% $47

Sport & Entertainment

Moscow

$64 3.3%

Noril'sk

$49 4.6% 23.3% $15

Getting Around

Moscow

$55 2.9%

Noril'sk

$30 2.8% 44.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,533 in Moscow versus $482 in Noril’sk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61 in Moscow versus $38 in Noril’sk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $211 – making Noril’sk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇷🇺 Moscow

🇷🇺 Noril'sk

🕒 Local time

03:13 3:13 AM

07:13 7:13 AM

4 h ahead of Moscow

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

12,700,000 Capital

182,701

💱 Currency

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Moscow Noril'sk 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Moscow
Noril'sk

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Noril'sk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 79% more than Noril’sk, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,883 per month in Moscow and $1,612 in Noril’sk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Noril’sk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $482 there versus $1,533 in Moscow.

Public transport costs about 45% less in Noril’sk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $898 per month in Moscow and $350 in Noril’sk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,922 in Moscow and $1,075 in Noril’sk. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Noril’sk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

For expats, Noril’sk is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 44% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.