Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Ulan Ude Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Ulan Ude

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Moscow vs $997 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Moscow vs $1,528 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,501 per month in Moscow vs $2,060 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

Moscow costs about 71% more than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 24% above the global median, while Ulan Ude is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

$6.77 ₽581

68.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$46.14 ₽3,960

24.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$5.99 ₽514

16.19%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$2.95 ₽253

17.63%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$1.52 ₽131

0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$1.18 ₽101

-33.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$2.19 ₽188

113.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$3.67 ₽315

29.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.26 ₽108

-7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.72 ₽61.5

34.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$0.84 ₽71.7

91.67%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$1.43 ₽123

29.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$9.46 ₽812

34.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$4.87 ₽418

27.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$9.12 ₽783

47.70%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$1.29 ₽111

47.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.37 ₽117

24.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$1.19 ₽102

63.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$2.07 ₽178

90.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$0.54 ₽46.56

51.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.61 ₽52.0

4.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$2.18 ₽187

-27.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.66 ₽56.7

31.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.26 ₽194

39.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$6.76 ₽580

72.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$0.89 ₽76.5

30.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$1.46 ₽126

64.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.48 ₽40.77

91.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

$20.61 ₽1,769

90.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$1.21 ₽104

190.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.22 ₽18.93

213.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

$5.11 ₽439

74.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.75 ₽64.8

13.33%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$33.3K ₽2.9M

10.73%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$28.4K ₽2.4M

34.34%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$118 ₽10.1K

53.14%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$3.54 ₽303

132.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$7.92 ₽679

19.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$22.92 ₽1,967

59.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

$31.03 ₽2,663

40.25%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$6.84 ₽587

15.35%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$235 ₽20.2K

213.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

$4,658 ₽399.8K

382.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$68.2 ₽5,857

40.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$43.24 ₽3,711

37.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$110 ₽9,446

23.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$100 ₽8,619

67.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$492 ₽42.2K

183.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$369 ₽31.7K

101.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$766 ₽65.7K

264.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$579 ₽49.7K

141.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$1,881 ₽161.4K

433.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$1,517 ₽130.2K

190.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$828 ₽71.0K

101.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

21.67

-8.35%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,393 in Moscow versus $492 in Ulan Ude. 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 101% 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 $46.00 in Ulan Ude. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $179 – making Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 71% more than Ulan Ude, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,561 per month in Moscow and $1,495 in Ulan Ude. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 91% less in Ulan Ude. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Moscow and $235 in Ulan Ude. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulan Ude, where all-in costs run around $997, than in Moscow at $1,707. In Ulan Ude it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulan Ude costs $997 versus $1,707 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 Ulan Ude. 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.