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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,637 per month in Moscow vs $979 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Moscow vs $1,504 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,579 per month in Moscow vs $2,029 in Novokuznetsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 67% more than Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 22% 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
$12.72 ₽955
$9.25 ₽695
37.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1 ₽4,286
$37.57 ₽2,822
51.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 ₽480
$5.60 ₽420
14.11%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ₽249
$2.34 ₽176
41.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 ₽108
$1.07 ₽80.7
33.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₽47.27
$0.52 ₽39.18
21.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 ₽328
$1.41 ₽106
209.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 ₽327
$2.50 ₽188
74.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ₽99.3
$1.12 ₽83.9
17.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₽66.8
$0.71 ₽53.3
25.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 ₽126
$1.36 ₽102
22.79%
Eggs
$1.84 ₽138
$1.73 ₽130
6.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.39 ₽1,006
$10.97 ₽824
22.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.95 ₽447
$4.95 ₽371
20.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.26 ₽921
$8.70 ₽654
40.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 ₽146
$1.81 ₽136
7.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 ₽160
$1.82 ₽136
17.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 ₽177
$1.99 ₽150
18.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 ₽313
$2.67 ₽201
56.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 ₽77.6
$0.85 ₽63.5
21.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 ₽62.8
$0.72 ₽54.3
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ₽127
$1.37 ₽103
23.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₽59.7
$0.68 ₽51.1
16.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 ₽244
$2.90 ₽218
12.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.66 ₽801
$9.47 ₽711
12.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 ₽84.2
$0.96 ₽72.0
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ₽173
$1.95 ₽146
18.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 ₽68.2
$0.49 ₽37.18
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.03 ₽2,857
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 ₽189
$1.84 ₽139
36.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 ₽33.42
$0.33 ₽24.59
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ₽620
$6.51 ₽489
26.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.75 ₽56.0
$0.78 ₽58.2
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K ₽2.8M
$34.6K ₽2.6M
9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K ₽2.8M
$36.1K ₽2.7M
3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 ₽11.5K
$108 ₽8,110
41.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.16 ₽613
$6.11 ₽459
33.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.20 ₽616
$8.03 ₽603
2.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.39 ₽3,484
$35.39 ₽2,658
31.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.02 ₽2,555
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.25 ₽470
$5.03 ₽378
24.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$686 ₽51.5K
$319 ₽24.0K
114.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ₽1.1M
$6,920 ₽519.8K
114.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0 ₽6,607
$68.7 ₽5,161
28.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 ₽3,985
$43.63 ₽3,277
21.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$130 ₽9,739
$112 ₽8,422
15.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163 ₽12.3K
$106 ₽7,949
54.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,335 ₽100.3K
$448 ₽33.7K
197.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$732 ₽54.9K
$304 ₽22.8K
140.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,943 ₽221.1K
$761 ₽57.1K
286.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,426 ₽107.1K
$499 ₽37.4K
185.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$11.9K ₽893.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,809 ₽361.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,915 ₽143.9K
$401 ₽30.1K
377.85%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Novokuznetsk: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,335 in Moscow versus $448 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 378% 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: $248 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 67% 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 $2,456 per month in Moscow and $1,469 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 24% 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 $979, than in Moscow at $1,637. 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 $979 versus $1,637 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.

Moscow vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities