Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Novosibirsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Novosibirsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Moscow vs $1,017 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,647 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,557 per month in Moscow vs $2,276 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 62% more than Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Novosibirsk is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽953

$7.46 ₽550

73.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,192

$37.34 ₽2,755

52.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽463

$4.95 ₽365

26.87%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽233

$2.87 ₽212

10.10%

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

$1.38 ₽102

$1.35 ₽99.9

2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽50.3

$0.84 ₽62.0

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽335

$2.50 ₽185

81.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽333

$3.86 ₽285

16.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽97.9

$1.10 ₽81.2

20.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽65.5

$0.57 ₽41.82

56.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽130

$1.69 ₽124

4.14%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽137

$1.79 ₽132

3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽952

$10.93 ₽807

18.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽435

$5.10 ₽377

15.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽903

$10.06 ₽742

21.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽140

$2.09 ₽155

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽156

$1.93 ₽142

9.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽174

$1.93 ₽143

22.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽306

$3.35 ₽247

23.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽72.4

$0.76 ₽55.9

28.95%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽62.4

$0.67 ₽49.48

26.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽127

$1.09 ₽80.2

57.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.73 ₽54.1

10.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽229

$3.20 ₽236

-3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽804

$9.58 ₽707

13.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽80.1

$0.91 ₽67.2

19.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽175

$2.04 ₽151

16.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽64.4

$0.53 ₽39.18

64.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,824

$31.65 ₽2,336

20.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽186

$1.85 ₽136

36.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.89

$0.25 ₽18.41

88.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽597

$3.90 ₽288

107.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.74 ₽54.8

9.46%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$55.1K ₽4.1M

-30.87%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$26.4K ₽2.0M

40.57%

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

$151 ₽11.1K

$107 ₽7,867

41.54%

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

$7.97 ₽588

$5.48 ₽405

45.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽590

$8.77 ₽647

-8.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,454

$60.7 ₽4,480

-22.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,559

$24.37 ₽1,798

42.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽462

$5.99 ₽442

4.51%

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

$707 ₽52.1K

$354 ₽26.1K

99.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$4,701 ₽346.9K

208.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,484

$69.9 ₽5,158

25.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,935

$39.91 ₽2,945

33.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,631

$96.6 ₽7,129

35.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.7K

$77.9 ₽5,745

103.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽97.2K

$470 ₽34.7K

180.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽54.1K

$302 ₽22.3K

142.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽221.7K

$840 ₽62.0K

257.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽102.8K

$647 ₽47.7K

115.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽865.8K

$3,092 ₽228.2K

279.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽370.9K

$1,999 ₽147.5K

151.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽153.1K

$897 ₽66.2K

131.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

17.38

40.33%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Moscow versus $470 in Novosibirsk. 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 131% 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 $37.00 in Novosibirsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $210 – making Novosibirsk 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 Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 62% more than Novosibirsk, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,526 in Novosibirsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 21% less in Novosibirsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $707 per month in Moscow and $354 in Novosibirsk. 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 Novosibirsk, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Moscow at $1,648. In Novosibirsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Novosibirsk costs $1,017 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 Novosibirsk. 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.