Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Surgut Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Surgut

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Moscow vs $952 in Surgut, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,596 per month in Moscow vs $1,479 in Surgut, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,554 per month in Moscow vs $2,006 in Surgut, rent included.

Moscow costs about 72% more than Surgut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Surgut is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.79 ₽1,020
$9.45 ₽754
35.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 ₽4,590
$37.52 ₽2,994
53.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 ₽501
$5.75 ₽458
9.22%
Cappuccino
$3.31 ₽264
$2.34 ₽187
41.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₽114
$1.08 ₽86.5
31.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₽53.5
$0.52 ₽41.82
28.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.32 ₽345
$1.42 ₽113
204.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 ₽362
$2.52 ₽201
80.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₽103
$1.10 ₽87.9
17.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 ₽71.5
$0.71 ₽56.5
26.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 ₽135
$1.37 ₽109
23.36%
Eggs
$1.87 ₽149
$1.70 ₽136
10.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 ₽1,035
$10.87 ₽867
19.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.99 ₽478
$4.96 ₽396
20.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 ₽953
$8.97 ₽716
33.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₽149
$1.78 ₽142
4.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 ₽164
$1.80 ₽143
13.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ₽183
$1.90 ₽152
20.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.01 ₽320
$2.77 ₽221
44.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 ₽82.1
$0.84 ₽67.3
22.62%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 ₽64.5
$0.71 ₽56.7
14.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 ₽135
$1.34 ₽107
26.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₽63.5
$0.72 ₽57.2
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.10 ₽248
$2.96 ₽236
4.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 ₽1,013
$7.67 ₽612
65.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 ₽89.5
$0.96 ₽76.6
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₽194
$1.86 ₽149
30.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ₽68.7
$0.53 ₽42.38
62.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.82 ₽3,017
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 ₽199
$1.94 ₽155
28.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 ₽35.45
$0.33 ₽26.04
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 ₽632
$6.32 ₽504
25.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 ₽65.3
$0.78 ₽62.1
5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K ₽3.0M
$34.6K ₽2.8M
7.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K ₽2.9M
$35.5K ₽2.8M
1.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 ₽12.0K
$111 ₽8,887
35.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.00 ₽638
$6.01 ₽479
33.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.82 ₽624
$7.86 ₽627
-0.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.92 ₽3,743
$35.85 ₽2,860
30.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.41 ₽2,745
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 ₽494
$5.16 ₽412
19.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$697 ₽55.6K
$327 ₽26.1K
113.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ₽1.2M
$6,888 ₽549.5K
113.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8 ₽7,086
$69.3 ₽5,528
28.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0 ₽4,224
$43.61 ₽3,479
21.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$134 ₽10.7K
$116 ₽9,290
15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$162 ₽12.9K
$105 ₽8,371
54.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,344 ₽107.3K
$440 ₽35.1K
205.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$738 ₽58.9K
$300 ₽23.9K
146.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,965 ₽236.5K
$747 ₽59.6K
297.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,434 ₽114.4K
$515 ₽41.1K
178.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K ₽863.9K
$2,238 ₽178.5K
383.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,627 ₽369.1K
$1,357 ₽108.2K
241.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moscow
Surgut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,794 ₽143.1K
$691 ₽55.1K
159.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
24.39
15.33
59.10%

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

Last update for Moscow: July 28, 2026

Last update for Surgut: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,344 in Moscow versus $440 in Surgut. 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 159% 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 $58.0 in Moscow versus $38.00 in Surgut. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $198 – making Surgut 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 Surgut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Moscow or Surgut?
Moscow costs about 72% more than Surgut, 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 and in Surgut?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,458 per month in Moscow and $1,429 in Surgut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Moscow or Surgut?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surgut, 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 and in Surgut?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Moscow and $38.00 in Surgut. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Moscow or in Surgut?
Groceries cost about 26% 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 $1,000/month in Moscow or in Surgut?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Surgut, where all-in costs run around $952, than in Moscow at $1,638. In Surgut 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 Surgut?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surgut costs $952 versus $1,638 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 to Surgut?
If budget matters most, go with Surgut. 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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