Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Yakutsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Yakutsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Moscow vs $1,343 in Yakutsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Moscow vs $2,022 in Yakutsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,501 per month in Moscow vs $2,702 in Yakutsk, rent included.

Moscow costs about 27% more than Yakutsk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Moscow sits 24% above the global median, while Yakutsk is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽981

$8.57 ₽735

33.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,912

$41.05 ₽3,523

39.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽598

$8.34 ₽716

-16.55%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽298

$2.12 ₽182

63.68%

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

$1.53 ₽132

$1.57 ₽135

-2.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽66.8

$0.98 ₽84.1

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽401

$3.46 ₽297

35.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽409

$2.94 ₽252

61.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽100

$1.70 ₽146

-31.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽82.9

$0.81 ₽69.6

19.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽138

$1.52 ₽130

5.92%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽159

$2.12 ₽182

-12.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,092

$11.84 ₽1,016

7.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽534

$7.46 ₽640

-16.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,156

$9.49 ₽814

41.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽163

$3.13 ₽269

-39.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽147

$2.65 ₽228

-35.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽167

$3.70 ₽317

-47.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽338

$4.54 ₽389

-13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽70.6

$1.15 ₽99.1

-28.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$1.43 ₽123

-55.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽135

$1.40 ₽121

12.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽74.5

$0.89 ₽76.4

-2.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽271

$2.96 ₽254

6.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽999

$7.94 ₽681

46.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽99.5

$1.52 ₽130

-23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽206

$2.50 ₽215

-4.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽79.4

$0.65 ₽56.1

41.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,377

$18.75 ₽1,609

109.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽302

$2.35 ₽202

49.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.0

$0.22 ₽18.91

213.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽766

$5.83 ₽500

53.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.2

$0.83 ₽70.9

2.41%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$37.0K ₽3.2M

-0.50%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$25.5K ₽2.2M

49.80%

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

$180 ₽15.5K

$153 ₽13.1K

18.13%

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

$8.22 ₽705

$7.91 ₽679

3.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽812

$14.04 ₽1,205

-32.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,144

$92.5 ₽7,937

-60.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,735

$4.68 ₽402

829.91%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽677

$5.90 ₽506

33.73%

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

$738 ₽63.3K

$304 ₽26.1K

143.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

$2,363 ₽202.8K

850.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,241

$62.4 ₽5,355

53.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,084

$61.5 ₽5,280

-3.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.6K

$153 ₽13.1K

-11.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.5K

$95.5 ₽8,192

76.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽119.5K

$639 ₽54.8K

118.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽63.8K

$431 ₽37.0K

72.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽239.7K

$1,092 ₽93.7K

155.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽119.9K

$733 ₽62.9K

90.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽861.5K

$2,822 ₽242.2K

255.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽378.7K

$2,450 ₽210.3K

80.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽142.9K

$1,039 ₽89.2K

60.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

-5.43%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Yakutsk: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,393 in Moscow versus $639 in Yakutsk. 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 60% 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 $41.00 in Yakutsk. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Moscow vs $261 in Yakutsk – so Moscow wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Yakutsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 27% more than Yakutsk, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 $2,014 in Yakutsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 110% less in Yakutsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Moscow and $304 in Yakutsk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Yakutsk, where all-in costs run around $1,343, than in Moscow at $1,707. In Yakutsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yakutsk costs $1,343 versus $1,707 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 Yakutsk. 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.