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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,638 per month in Moscow vs $1,011 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,596 per month in Moscow vs $1,536 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,554 per month in Moscow vs $2,062 in Vladikavkaz, rent included.

Moscow costs about 62% more than Vladikavkaz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Vladikavkaz is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.79 ₽1,018

$9.49 ₽755

34.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 ₽4,579

$38.32 ₽3,050

50.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽499

$5.75 ₽458

9.22%

Cappuccino

$3.31 ₽263

$1.11 ₽88.2

198.20%

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

$1.42 ₽113

$0.96 ₽76.5

47.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽53.4

$0.42 ₽33.50

59.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.32 ₽344

$1.62 ₽129

166.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₽362

$2.60 ₽207

74.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 ₽102

$1.00 ₽79.9

29.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₽71.3

$0.66 ₽52.8

36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.44 ₽114

17.36%

Eggs

$1.87 ₽149

$1.54 ₽123

21.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.98 ₽1,033

$10.90 ₽868

19.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.99 ₽477

$5.16 ₽411

16.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 ₽951

$8.96 ₽713

33.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽148

$1.76 ₽140

5.68%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 ₽163

$1.81 ₽144

13.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ₽183

$1.94 ₽154

18.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₽319

$4.47 ₽356

-10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 ₽81.9

$0.87 ₽69.5

18.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽64.3

$0.70 ₽55.8

15.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽135

$1.39 ₽111

21.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.3

$0.71 ₽56.2

12.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽247

$3.03 ₽241

2.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 ₽1,011

$10.14 ₽807

25.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽89.3

$0.93 ₽74.4

20.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₽194

$1.94 ₽154

25.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽68.6

$0.39 ₽31.02

120.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.82 ₽3,010

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 ₽198

$1.31 ₽104

90.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽35.37

$0.22 ₽17.42

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₽631

$6.52 ₽519

21.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽65.1

$0.74 ₽59.1

10.81%

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

$37.4K ₽3.0M

$34.2K ₽2.7M

9.20%

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

$36.2K ₽2.9M

$36.3K ₽2.9M

-0.23%

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

$151 ₽12.0K

$107 ₽8,546

40.33%

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

$8.00 ₽636

$5.79 ₽461

38.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.82 ₽623

$7.73 ₽615

1.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.92 ₽3,734

$38.78 ₽3,087

20.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.41 ₽2,739

$12.91 ₽1,027

166.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 ₽493

$6.43 ₽512

-3.73%

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

$697 ₽55.5K

$322 ₽25.6K

116.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ₽1.2M

$7,052 ₽561.3K

108.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.8 ₽7,069

$68.7 ₽5,468

29.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.0 ₽4,214

$45.22 ₽3,599

17.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽10.7K

$115 ₽9,162

16.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 ₽12.9K

$105 ₽8,368

53.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,344 ₽107.0K

$436 ₽34.7K

208.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$738 ₽58.7K

$330 ₽26.2K

123.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,965 ₽236.0K

$717 ₽57.1K

313.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 ₽114.1K

$550 ₽43.8K

160.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.8K ₽861.9K

$1,450 ₽115.4K

646.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,627 ₽368.3K

$1,810 ₽144.1K

155.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,794 ₽142.8K

$412 ₽32.8K

335.74%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Vladikavkaz: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,344 in Moscow versus $436 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 336% 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 $58.0 in Moscow versus $38.00 in Vladikavkaz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $211 – 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 62% 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 $2,458 per month in Moscow and $1,516 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 $58.0 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 18% 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 $1,011, than in Moscow at $1,638. 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 $1,011 versus $1,638 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.