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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Moscow vs $811 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Moscow vs $1,259 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,501 per month in Moscow vs $1,707 in Ulyanovsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 111% more than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Moscow sits 24% above the global median, while Ulyanovsk is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

$11.56 ₽992

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$28.53 ₽2,448

100.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$5.87 ₽504

18.57%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$2.40 ₽206

44.58%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$1.00 ₽85.8

53.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$0.49 ₽42.22

59.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$2.22 ₽191

110.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$1.71 ₽147

178.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.06 ₽91.0

10.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.72 ₽62.2

34.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$1.21 ₽104

33.06%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$0.98 ₽84.1

88.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$11.43 ₽981

11.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$5.48 ₽471

13.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$9.44 ₽810

42.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$1.20 ₽103

58.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.61 ₽138

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$2.35 ₽201

-17.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$2.79 ₽240

41.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$0.96 ₽82.3

-14.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.65 ₽55.7

-1.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$1.43 ₽123

9.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.42 ₽36.18

107.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.63 ₽226

19.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$6.89 ₽592

68.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$0.70 ₽59.8

65.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$0.60 ₽51.3

300.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.41 ₽35.08

124.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

$17.03 ₽1,461

131.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$1.25 ₽108

181.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.17 ₽14.43

305.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

$4.83 ₽414

84.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.78 ₽66.6

8.97%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$48.9K ₽4.2M

-24.64%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$42.2K ₽3.6M

-9.51%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$58.0 ₽4,978

211.00%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$5.19 ₽446

58.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$4.54 ₽390

108.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$27.89 ₽2,393

31.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

$24.53 ₽2,105

77.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$5.53 ₽474

42.68%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$175 ₽15.0K

322.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$29.00 ₽2,489

231.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$34.14 ₽2,930

73.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$91.2 ₽7,830

48.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$57.9 ₽4,969

191.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$335 ₽28.7K

316.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$223 ₽19.2K

232.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$504 ₽43.2K

454.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$392 ₽33.6K

256.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$2,021 ₽173.5K

396.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$1,231 ₽105.7K

258.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$613 ₽52.6K

171.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

-13.65%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,393 in Moscow versus $335 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 172% 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 $29.00 in Ulyanovsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $189 – 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 111% more than Ulyanovsk, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,216 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.

Public transport costs about 131% less in Ulyanovsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Moscow and $175 in Ulyanovsk. 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 Ulyanovsk, where all-in costs run around $811, than in Moscow at $1,707. 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 $811 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 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.