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 $1,683 per month in Moscow vs $960 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,643 per month in Moscow vs $1,464 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,967 in Ulan Ude, rent included.

Moscow costs about 75% more than Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Ulan Ude is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.68 ₽996

$9.28 ₽729

36.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ₽4,500

$37.70 ₽2,961

51.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₽504

$5.99 ₽471

7.18%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ₽262

$2.29 ₽180

45.85%

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

$1.39 ₽109

$1.19 ₽93.4

16.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.2

$0.48 ₽37.42

41.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 ₽347

$1.42 ₽111

211.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₽345

$2.53 ₽198

73.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽100.0

$1.16 ₽91.4

9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₽69.3

$0.44 ₽34.51

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽133

$1.37 ₽107

23.36%

Eggs

$1.92 ₽151

$1.72 ₽135

11.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ₽1,051

$10.69 ₽840

25.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 ₽483

$4.90 ₽385

25.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 ₽964

$8.89 ₽698

38.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽153

$1.73 ₽136

12.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ₽163

$1.84 ₽144

12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₽181

$1.93 ₽151

19.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 ₽330

$2.66 ₽209

57.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ₽78.4

$0.79 ₽61.8

26.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ₽67.5

$0.68 ₽53.0

26.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 ₽130

$1.40 ₽110

18.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽59.2

$0.68 ₽53.3

10.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₽245

$2.98 ₽234

4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 ₽1,002

$6.36 ₽500

100.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₽85.1

$1.00 ₽78.7

8.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₽184

$1.92 ₽151

21.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽68.0

$0.49 ₽38.24

77.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 ₽2,934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ₽202

$1.87 ₽147

37.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽34.64

$0.33 ₽25.90

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₽632

$6.28 ₽494

28.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽63.2

$0.80 ₽62.7

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

$37.8K ₽3.0M

$34.8K ₽2.7M

8.47%

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

$36.0K ₽2.8M

-0.03%

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

$150 ₽11.8K

$109 ₽8,593

36.87%

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

$8.15 ₽640

$5.99 ₽470

36.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 ₽639

$7.76 ₽610

4.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 ₽3,755

$35.95 ₽2,824

32.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.23 ₽2,768

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 ₽498

$5.09 ₽400

24.36%

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

$694 ₽54.5K

$319 ₽25.1K

117.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₽1.2M

$7,056 ₽554.3K

110.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 ₽6,859

$68.8 ₽5,403

26.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 ₽4,158

$44.46 ₽3,493

19.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽10.4K

$114 ₽8,922

16.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.9K

$108 ₽8,520

50.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₽105.7K

$447 ₽35.1K

201.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₽59.4K

$306 ₽24.0K

147.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 ₽232.8K

$759 ₽59.6K

290.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 ₽108.8K

$516 ₽40.6K

168.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.0K ₽865.0K

$2,329 ₽183.0K

372.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,689 ₽368.3K

$1,802 ₽141.6K

160.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,779 ₽139.8K

$670 ₽52.7K

165.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

18.33

33.06%

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

Last update for Moscow: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,346 in Moscow versus $447 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 165% 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 $38.00 in Ulan Ude. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $191 – 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 75% more than Ulan Ude, 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 $2,525 per month in Moscow and $1,440 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Moscow and $38.00 in Ulan Ude. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Moscow, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulan Ude, where all-in costs run around $960, than in Moscow at $1,683. 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 $960 versus $1,683 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.