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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Moscow vs $835 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,239 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,557 per month in Moscow vs $1,642 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 97% more than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Ulyanovsk is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽943

$8.93 ₽652

44.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,146

$31.68 ₽2,312

79.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽458

$5.58 ₽408

12.54%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽231

$2.41 ₽176

31.12%

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

$1.38 ₽101

$1.11 ₽81.0

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽49.71

$0.46 ₽33.36

47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽331

$0.85 ₽61.8

434.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽329

$1.67 ₽122

170.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽96.8

$1.10 ₽80.6

20.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽64.8

$0.65 ₽47.23

36.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽129

$1.19 ₽86.8

47.90%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽135

$1.57 ₽114

17.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽942

$9.35 ₽682

37.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽430

$4.75 ₽347

24.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽893

$8.51 ₽621

43.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽138

$1.25 ₽90.9

51.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽154

$1.50 ₽109

40.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽172

$1.46 ₽107

61.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽303

$1.74 ₽127

138.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽71.6

$0.67 ₽48.62

46.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$0.39 ₽28.68

117.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽125

$1.75 ₽128

-1.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.3

$0.54 ₽39.40

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽227

$1.38 ₽101

124.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽795

$4.98 ₽363

118.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$0.91 ₽66.7

19.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽173

$1.77 ₽129

33.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽63.7

$0.43 ₽31.58

102.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,793

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽184

$1.85 ₽135

36.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.51

$0.19 ₽13.75

147.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽591

$3.92 ₽286

106.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.2

$0.76 ₽55.4

6.58%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$48.7K ₽3.6M

-21.73%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$44.7K ₽3.3M

-16.79%

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

$151 ₽11.0K

$102 ₽7,465

47.56%

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

$7.97 ₽582

$5.47 ₽399

45.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽583

$5.59 ₽408

42.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,416

$35.95 ₽2,624

30.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,531

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽457

$4.07 ₽297

53.81%

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

$707 ₽51.6K

$89.2 ₽6,511

692.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$6,038 ₽440.7K

140.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,414

$100 ₽7,317

-12.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,892

$47.92 ₽3,498

11.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,527

$87.2 ₽6,364

49.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.6K

$75.7 ₽5,523

109.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽96.1K

$316 ₽23.0K

317.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽53.5K

$234 ₽17.1K

213.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽219.3K

$565 ₽41.2K

431.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽101.7K

$304 ₽22.2K

357.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽856.4K

$2,443 ₽178.3K

380.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽366.9K

$1,482 ₽108.2K

239.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽151.5K

$742 ₽54.1K

179.85%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Moscow versus $316 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 180% 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: $247 vs $170 – 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 97% 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 $2,473 per month in Moscow and $1,253 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 45% 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 $835, than in Moscow at $1,648. 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 $835 versus $1,648 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.