Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Volgograd Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Volgograd

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,732 per month in Moscow vs $844 in Volgograd, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,677 per month in Moscow vs $1,340 in Volgograd, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,622 per month in Moscow vs $1,836 in Volgograd, rent included.

Moscow costs about 105% more than Volgograd, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Moscow sits 26% above the global median, while Volgograd is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.71 ₽984

$5.68 ₽477

106.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 ₽4,959

$37.70 ₽3,169

56.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 ₽581

$5.14 ₽432

34.44%

Cappuccino

$3.54 ₽298

$2.37 ₽199

49.37%

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

$1.56 ₽131

$0.97 ₽81.9

60.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽65.4

$0.55 ₽46.46

41.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.73 ₽397

$1.15 ₽96.6

311.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 ₽396

$2.40 ₽201

96.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.07 ₽90.1

11.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽81.0

$0.66 ₽55.5

45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽139

$1.32 ₽111

25.76%

Eggs

$1.89 ₽159

$1.46 ₽123

29.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.12 ₽1,102

$7.10 ₽597

84.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.13 ₽515

$4.92 ₽414

24.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ₽1,187

$10.84 ₽911

30.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 ₽163

$1.22 ₽103

59.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽144

$1.43 ₽120

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₽165

$1.41 ₽119

39.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.00 ₽336

$2.43 ₽204

64.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ₽75.7

$0.73 ₽61.6

23.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.69 ₽57.7

$0.45 ₽38.15

53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 ₽131

$0.33 ₽28.12

372.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽71.1

$0.59 ₽49.82

44.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽269

$2.69 ₽226

18.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.71 ₽984

$8.50 ₽715

37.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₽95.6

$1.08 ₽90.7

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₽196

$1.89 ₽159

23.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₽79.6

$0.49 ₽41.26

93.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 ₽3,410

$16.13 ₽1,356

151.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 ₽300

$1.14 ₽96.0

213.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.68 ₽57.0

$0.24 ₽20.29

183.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.31 ₽867

$4.45 ₽374

131.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽68.7

$0.81 ₽68.3

1.23%

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

$36.8K ₽3.1M

$24.7K ₽2.1M

49.06%

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

$37.3K ₽3.1M

$26.5K ₽2.2M

40.44%

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

$183 ₽15.4K

$80.5 ₽6,764

127.39%

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

$8.74 ₽735

$9.92 ₽834

-11.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.36 ₽787

$7.74 ₽650

20.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.75 ₽3,257

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.24 ₽3,719

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 ₽681

$5.73 ₽482

41.36%

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

$765 ₽64.3K

$173 ₽14.5K

343.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K ₽2.1M

$3,435 ₽288.7K

617.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₽8,511

$106 ₽8,941

-4.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 ₽5,031

$70.9 ₽5,957

-15.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽11.8K

$51.6 ₽4,336

173.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 ₽14.4K

$172 ₽14.5K

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,429 ₽120.1K

$383 ₽32.2K

272.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$762 ₽64.0K

$233 ₽19.5K

227.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,876 ₽241.7K

$889 ₽74.7K

223.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,450 ₽121.9K

$458 ₽38.5K

216.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.2K ₽853.3K

$1,353 ₽113.7K

650.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,438 ₽373.0K

$1,158 ₽97.3K

283.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,708 ₽143.5K

$440 ₽36.9K

288.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

21.33

-6.89%

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

Last update for Moscow: September 6, 2026

Last update for Volgograd: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,429 in Moscow versus $383 in Volgograd. 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 288% 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 $59.0 in Moscow versus $38.00 in Volgograd. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $177 – making Volgograd 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 Volgograd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 105% more than Volgograd, 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 $2,598 per month in Moscow and $1,267 in Volgograd. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Volgograd, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 152% less in Volgograd. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $765 per month in Moscow and $173 in Volgograd. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Volgograd, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Moscow at $1,732. In Volgograd it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Volgograd costs $844 versus $1,732 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 Volgograd. 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.