Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Shchelkovo

For one person, living is cheaper in Shchelkovo: $1,054 a month against $1,843 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Moscow, Russia
Shchelkovo, Russia
Moscow
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,843
/mo nomad
Shchelkovo
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,054
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moscow and in Shchelkovo

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 Shchelkovo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,843 per month in Moscow vs $1,054 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

  • Moscow $1,843
  • Shchelkovo $1,054

A couple spends around $2,822 per month in Moscow vs $1,657 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

  • Moscow $2,822
  • Shchelkovo $1,657

A family of three spends $3,801 per month in Moscow vs $2,260 in Shchelkovo, rent included.

  • Moscow $3,801
  • Shchelkovo $2,260

Moscow costs about 75% more than Shchelkovo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Moscow sits 36% above the global median, while Shchelkovo is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 ₽995
$6.07 ₽497
100.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.2 ₽5,095
$37.25 ₽3,053
66.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.31 ₽599
$7.55 ₽619
-3.18%
Cappuccino
$3.72 ₽305
$3.12 ₽255
19.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₽137
$1.05 ₽86.2
59.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₽67.7
$0.65 ₽53.1
27.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 ₽412
$0.88 ₽72.4
471.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 ₽397
$1.87 ₽153
158.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₽102
$1.14 ₽93.2
8.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 ₽81.6
$1.04 ₽84.9
-3.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 ₽140
$2.31 ₽189
-25.97%
Eggs
$1.90 ₽156
$1.67 ₽137
13.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.34 ₽1,176
$9.65 ₽791
48.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 ₽545
$6.73 ₽552
-1.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 ₽1,191
$11.69 ₽958
24.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ₽170
$1.32 ₽108
56.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 ₽155
$1.30 ₽107
45.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 ₽157
$1.28 ₽105
49.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 ₽325
$2.52 ₽206
57.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 ₽76.1
$1.01 ₽82.9
-7.92%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 ₽57.5
$0.38 ₽30.91
84.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 ₽134
$0.64 ₽52.6
156.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₽75.2
$0.58 ₽47.21
58.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.50 ₽287
$2.73 ₽224
28.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.25 ₽1,004
$6.33 ₽519
93.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ₽96.7
$0.93 ₽76.4
26.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ₽208
$1.89 ₽155
34.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ₽77.6
$0.57 ₽46.52
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.83 ₽3,511
$26.43 ₽2,166
62.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 ₽295
$4.32 ₽354
-16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 ₽62.6
$0.30 ₽24.19
153.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.20 ₽918
$4.83 ₽396
131.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₽73.5
$0.88 ₽72.1
2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9K ₽3.5M
$54.3K ₽4.5M
-21.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K ₽3.3M
$42.7K ₽3.5M
-6.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 ₽14.5K
$109 ₽8,930
62.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.76 ₽718
$4.84 ₽397
80.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.72 ₽797
$5.69 ₽466
70.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.21 ₽3,460
$33.46 ₽2,743
26.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.14 ₽3,782
$23.59 ₽1,933
95.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.50 ₽779
$6.81 ₽558
39.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$869 ₽71.2K
$215 ₽17.6K
305.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.2K ₽2.5M
$3,621 ₽296.8K
733.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 ₽8,709
$52.6 ₽4,313
101.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5 ₽5,535
$30.62 ₽2,510
120.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$144 ₽11.8K
$141 ₽11.6K
1.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$179 ₽14.7K
$152 ₽12.4K
17.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,481 ₽121.4K
$460 ₽37.7K
221.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$837 ₽68.6K
$359 ₽29.4K
133.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,018 ₽247.4K
$1,023 ₽83.8K
195.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,487 ₽121.9K
$670 ₽54.9K
121.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,639 ₽790.1K
$2,527 ₽207.1K
281.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,728 ₽387.5K
$1,354 ₽111.0K
249.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Shchelkovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,804 ₽147.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.36
19
1.89%

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

Last update for Moscow: November 3, 2026

Last update for Shchelkovo: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Moscow
$837
Shchelkovo
$359 57.1% $478
Groceries & Markets
Moscow
$263
Shchelkovo
$202 23.3% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
$223
Shchelkovo
$169 24.2% $54
Eating Out
Moscow
$208
Shchelkovo
$124 40.8% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
$196
Shchelkovo
$119 39% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
$61
Shchelkovo
$47 23.1% $14
Getting Around
Moscow
$54
Shchelkovo
$35 36.2% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,481 in Moscow versus $460 in Shchelkovo. 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 $62 in Moscow versus $37 in Shchelkovo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $263 vs $202 – making Shchelkovo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Moscow
🇷🇺 Shchelkovo
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
08:26 8:26 AM
Same time as Moscow
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,700,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 81.97 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 92.27 RUB (100 RUB = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Moscow Shchelkovo 29 km
From you
  • Moscow
  • Shchelkovo

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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moscow or Shchelkovo?
Moscow costs about 75% more than Shchelkovo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 and in Shchelkovo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,764 per month in Moscow and $1,582 in Shchelkovo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Moscow or Shchelkovo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Shchelkovo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $460 there versus $1,481 in Moscow.
How expensive is transport in Moscow compared to Shchelkovo?
Public transport costs about 38% less in Shchelkovo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Moscow and in Shchelkovo?
Kindergarten costs $869 per month in Moscow and $215 in Shchelkovo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Moscow or in Shchelkovo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shchelkovo, where all-in costs run around $1,054, than in Moscow at $1,843. In Shchelkovo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Shchelkovo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Shchelkovo is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 43% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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