Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Ulyanovsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Ulyanovsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,683 per month in Moscow vs $844 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,643 per month in Moscow vs $1,259 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,675 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 100% more than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Ulyanovsk is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.68 ₽996

$8.97 ₽705

41.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.3 ₽4,500

$32.25 ₽2,534

77.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.42 ₽504

$5.81 ₽456

10.50%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ₽262

$2.32 ₽182

43.97%

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

$1.39 ₽109

$1.05 ₽82.5

32.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.2

$0.49 ₽38.77

38.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.42 ₽347

$0.92 ₽72.4

380.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 ₽345

$1.60 ₽126

174.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽100.0

$1.11 ₽87.0

14.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 ₽69.3

$0.60 ₽47.22

46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽133

$1.20 ₽94.0

40.83%

Eggs

$1.92 ₽151

$1.51 ₽118

27.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ₽1,051

$9.27 ₽728

44.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.15 ₽483

$4.68 ₽367

31.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 ₽964

$8.56 ₽672

43.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽153

$1.30 ₽102

49.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 ₽163

$1.48 ₽117

39.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₽181

$1.51 ₽118

52.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 ₽330

$1.75 ₽138

139.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 ₽78.4

$0.68 ₽53.0

47.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.86 ₽67.5

$0.39 ₽30.95

120.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 ₽130

$1.80 ₽141

-7.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽59.2

$0.50 ₽38.92

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₽245

$1.39 ₽109

124.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.76 ₽1,002

$4.66 ₽366

173.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₽85.1

$0.86 ₽67.6

25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₽184

$1.82 ₽143

28.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽68.0

$0.40 ₽31.70

117.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 ₽2,934

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 ₽202

$1.95 ₽154

31.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽34.64

$0.18 ₽14.52

144.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₽632

$3.83 ₽301

110.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₽63.2

$0.76 ₽59.4

5.26%

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

$37.8K ₽3.0M

$49.6K ₽3.9M

-23.78%

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

$36.0K ₽2.8M

$43.5K ₽3.4M

-17.11%

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

$150 ₽11.8K

$102 ₽8,028

46.52%

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

$8.15 ₽640

$5.46 ₽429

49.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.13 ₽639

$5.46 ₽429

48.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.80 ₽3,755

$34.90 ₽2,742

36.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.23 ₽2,768

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 ₽498

$4.19 ₽329

51.07%

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

$694 ₽54.5K

$90.3 ₽7,096

668.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₽1.2M

$6,112 ₽480.2K

142.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.3 ₽6,859

$101 ₽7,936

-13.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.9 ₽4,158

$47.69 ₽3,747

10.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 ₽10.4K

$88.7 ₽6,964

49.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$164 ₽12.9K

$75.8 ₽5,954

115.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₽105.7K

$314 ₽24.7K

327.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$757 ₽59.4K

$236 ₽18.6K

220.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,963 ₽232.8K

$564 ₽44.3K

425.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 ₽108.8K

$303 ₽23.8K

357.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.0K ₽865.0K

$2,283 ₽179.4K

382.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,689 ₽368.3K

$1,374 ₽107.9K

241.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,779 ₽139.8K

$708 ₽55.6K

151.34%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,346 in Moscow versus $314 in Ulyanovsk. 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 151% 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 $32.00 in Ulyanovsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $168 – making Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 100% more than Ulyanovsk, 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 $2,525 per month in Moscow and $1,266 in Ulyanovsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulyanovsk, 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 $32.00 in Ulyanovsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulyanovsk, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Moscow at $1,683. In Ulyanovsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ulyanovsk costs $844 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 Ulyanovsk. 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.