Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Novokuznetsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Novokuznetsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,689 per month in Moscow vs $975 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Moscow vs $1,479 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,475 per month in Moscow vs $1,982 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 73% more than Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Novokuznetsk is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.95 ₽938
$9.35 ₽677
38.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0 ₽4,130
$37.56 ₽2,721
51.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.31 ₽457
$5.77 ₽418
9.36%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ₽240
$2.34 ₽169
41.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₽101
$1.08 ₽78.2
29.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₽45.62
$0.51 ₽37.05
23.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.35 ₽315
$1.41 ₽102
208.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 ₽328
$2.56 ₽185
76.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 ₽97.6
$1.12 ₽80.9
20.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₽64.3
$0.70 ₽50.5
27.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 ₽122
$1.37 ₽99.2
22.63%
Eggs
$1.85 ₽134
$1.72 ₽125
7.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 ₽937
$10.87 ₽788
19.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.02 ₽437
$4.78 ₽347
25.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 ₽883
$9.10 ₽659
33.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 ₽140
$1.75 ₽127
10.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.06 ₽150
$1.82 ₽132
13.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ₽164
$1.94 ₽140
17.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.04 ₽293
$2.66 ₽193
51.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.98 ₽71.3
$0.78 ₽56.7
25.64%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 ₽57.6
$0.72 ₽52.0
9.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ₽122
$1.34 ₽97.0
26.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₽57.5
$0.71 ₽51.4
11.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 ₽234
$2.97 ₽215
8.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.88 ₽789
$9.72 ₽705
11.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₽80.7
$1.00 ₽72.2
11.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₽175
$1.92 ₽139
25.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 ₽65.3
$0.52 ₽37.98
73.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.34 ₽2,778
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 ₽182
$1.86 ₽135
34.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 ₽32.46
$0.32 ₽23.53
40.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 ₽574
$6.34 ₽459
25.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 ₽59.3
$0.78 ₽56.5
5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₽2.7M
$34.0K ₽2.5M
10.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K ₽2.7M
$35.4K ₽2.6M
3.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 ₽10.9K
$110 ₽7,970
36.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.15 ₽591
$5.79 ₽420
40.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.04 ₽582
$7.64 ₽553
5.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.24 ₽3,423
$35.12 ₽2,545
34.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.36 ₽2,490
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.45 ₽468
$4.97 ₽360
29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ₽50.5K
$330 ₽23.9K
111.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ₽1.1M
$6,912 ₽500.8K
113.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 ₽6,349
$70.5 ₽5,108
24.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.8 ₽3,823
$43.67 ₽3,164
20.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$131 ₽9,461
$112 ₽8,129
16.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$160 ₽11.6K
$106 ₽7,693
50.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,310 ₽94.9K
$440 ₽31.9K
197.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$740 ₽53.6K
$304 ₽22.0K
143.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,942 ₽213.2K
$748 ₽54.2K
293.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,435 ₽104.0K
$514 ₽37.2K
179.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.9K ₽859.3K
$3,012 ₽218.3K
293.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,856 ₽351.8K
$1,990 ₽144.2K
144.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,014 ₽145.9K
$419 ₽30.4K
380.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.39
13.62
79.07%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 6, 2026

Last update for Novokuznetsk: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,310 in Moscow versus $440 in Novokuznetsk. 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 380% 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 $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $201 – making Novokuznetsk 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 Novokuznetsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
Moscow costs about 73% more than Novokuznetsk, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Moscow vs Novokuznetsk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,533 per month in Moscow and $1,462 in Novokuznetsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novokuznetsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Moscow vs Novokuznetsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Moscow and $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Novokuznetsk, where all-in costs run around $975, than in Moscow at $1,689. In Novokuznetsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Novokuznetsk costs $975 versus $1,689 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Moscow or Novokuznetsk?
If budget matters most, go with Novokuznetsk. 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.

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