Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Vladikavkaz Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Vladikavkaz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,637 per month in Moscow vs $998 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Moscow vs $1,547 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,579 per month in Moscow vs $2,095 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

Moscow costs about 64% more than Vladikavkaz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 22% above the global median, while Vladikavkaz is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.72 ₽956

$9.28 ₽697

37.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.1 ₽4,288

$38.25 ₽2,874

49.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 ₽480

$5.54 ₽417

15.34%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽249

$1.17 ₽88.0

182.91%

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

$1.43 ₽108

$0.99 ₽74.7

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₽47.28

$0.42 ₽31.58

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 ₽328

$1.69 ₽127

157.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₽327

$2.46 ₽185

77.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₽99.3

$1.01 ₽75.6

30.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽66.8

$0.66 ₽49.82

34.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ₽126

$1.38 ₽104

21.01%

Eggs

$1.84 ₽138

$1.55 ₽117

18.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.39 ₽1,006

$10.62 ₽798

26.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 ₽447

$4.99 ₽375

19.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.26 ₽921

$8.77 ₽659

39.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 ₽146

$1.75 ₽131

11.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 ₽160

$1.88 ₽141

13.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽177

$2.01 ₽151

17.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 ₽313

$4.34 ₽326

-3.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽77.6

$0.93 ₽69.9

10.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 ₽62.8

$0.72 ₽53.8

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽127

$1.37 ₽103

23.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₽59.7

$0.66 ₽49.40

19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.25 ₽244

$3.02 ₽227

7.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.66 ₽801

$8.87 ₽667

20.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽84.2

$0.93 ₽70.1

20.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₽174

$1.87 ₽141

23.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ₽68.2

$0.42 ₽31.69

116.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.03 ₽2,858

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽189

$1.29 ₽97.1

95.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽33.42

$0.22 ₽16.52

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ₽620

$6.54 ₽491

26.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽56.1

$0.74 ₽55.8

1.35%

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

$37.9K ₽2.8M

$34.3K ₽2.6M

10.61%

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

$37.3K ₽2.8M

$35.2K ₽2.6M

6.09%

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

$153 ₽11.5K

$109 ₽8,154

40.55%

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

$8.16 ₽613

$5.85 ₽439

39.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.20 ₽616

$7.82 ₽588

4.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.39 ₽3,485

$38.53 ₽2,895

20.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.02 ₽2,556

$12.85 ₽965

164.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.25 ₽470

$6.23 ₽468

0.32%

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

$686 ₽51.5K

$320 ₽24.0K

114.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₽1.1M

$6,915 ₽519.6K

114.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.0 ₽6,608

$68.7 ₽5,159

28.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 ₽3,986

$44.23 ₽3,323

19.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₽9,741

$114 ₽8,565

13.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 ₽12.3K

$105 ₽7,902

55.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,335 ₽100.3K

$432 ₽32.5K

208.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$732 ₽55.0K

$336 ₽25.2K

117.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,943 ₽221.1K

$730 ₽54.8K

303.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 ₽107.1K

$557 ₽41.8K

156.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₽893.2K

$1,410 ₽106.0K

743.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,809 ₽361.3K

$1,605 ₽120.6K

199.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,915 ₽143.9K

$515 ₽38.7K

272.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

14.33

70.20%

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

Last update for Moscow: April 26, 2026

Last update for Vladikavkaz: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,335 in Moscow versus $432 in Vladikavkaz. 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 272% 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 Vladikavkaz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $205 – making Vladikavkaz 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 Vladikavkaz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 64% more than Vladikavkaz, 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 $2,456 per month in Moscow and $1,497 in Vladikavkaz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Vladikavkaz, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Moscow at $1,637. In Vladikavkaz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Vladikavkaz costs $998 versus $1,637 in Moscow. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Vladikavkaz. 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.