Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Tomsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Tomsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Moscow vs $1,008 in Tomsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,596 per month in Moscow vs $1,575 in Tomsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,554 per month in Moscow vs $2,142 in Tomsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 63% more than Tomsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,018

$6.42 ₽511

99.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,579

$31.90 ₽2,539

80.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽499

$5.81 ₽462

8.09%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽263

$2.24 ₽178

47.77%

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

$1.42 ₽113

$1.00 ₽79.7

42.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.4

$0.42 ₽33.80

59.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽344

$1.25 ₽99.6

245.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$3.12 ₽248

45.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽102

$1.11 ₽88.3

16.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.3

$0.57 ₽45.73

57.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.92 ₽153

-11.98%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$1.74 ₽138

7.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,033

$10.85 ₽863

19.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽477

$5.70 ₽454

5.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽951

$8.63 ₽687

38.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽148

$1.95 ₽155

-4.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽163

$1.98 ₽158

3.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$2.16 ₽172

6.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽319

$3.71 ₽296

8.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽81.9

$0.65 ₽51.8

58.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.3

$0.53 ₽42.36

52.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.00 ₽79.6

69.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.3

$0.62 ₽49.57

29.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽247

$2.52 ₽201

23.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,011

$7.24 ₽576

75.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.3

$0.85 ₽67.3

31.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.80 ₽143

35.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.6

$0.39 ₽31.14

120.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,010

$26.41 ₽2,102

43.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽198

$1.63 ₽130

52.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.37

$0.23 ₽18.27

91.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽631

$6.04 ₽480

31.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.1

$0.73 ₽58.3

12.33%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$30.5K ₽2.4M

22.41%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$40.9K ₽3.3M

-11.65%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$113 ₽8,974

33.65%

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

$8.00 ₽636

$5.09 ₽405

57.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽623

$7.92 ₽631

-1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,734

$62.2 ₽4,950

-24.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,739

$25.62 ₽2,039

34.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽493

$5.66 ₽450

9.36%

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

$697 ₽55.5K

$77.5 ₽6,168

799.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$4,447 ₽353.9K

230.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,069

$76.4 ₽6,081

16.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,214

$34.28 ₽2,729

54.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$132 ₽10.5K

1.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$184 ₽14.7K

-12.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.0K

$448 ₽35.6K

200.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.7K

$282 ₽22.4K

161.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.0K

$744 ₽59.2K

298.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.1K

$517 ₽41.2K

177.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽861.9K

$2,322 ₽184.8K

366.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽368.3K

$1,501 ₽119.4K

208.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽142.8K

$918 ₽73.0K

95.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

22.08

10.46%

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

Last update for Moscow: July 28, 2026

Last update for Tomsk: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,344 in Moscow versus $448 in Tomsk. 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 95% 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 $32.00 in Tomsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $204 – making Tomsk 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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 63% more than Tomsk, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,458 per month in Moscow and $1,512 in Tomsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 43% less in Tomsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $697 per month in Moscow and $77.5 in Tomsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tomsk, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Moscow at $1,638. In Tomsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tomsk costs $1,008 versus $1,638 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Tomsk. 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.