Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Yekaterinburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Yekaterinburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,707 per month in Moscow vs $1,264 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,604 per month in Moscow vs $2,068 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,501 per month in Moscow vs $2,873 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

Moscow costs about 35% more than Yekaterinburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Moscow sits 24% above the global median, while Yekaterinburg is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 ₽989

$12.36 ₽1,070

-7.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.2 ₽4,953

$47.23 ₽4,087

21.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.96 ₽603

$5.75 ₽498

21.04%

Cappuccino

$3.47 ₽300

$2.78 ₽241

24.82%

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

$1.53 ₽133

$1.42 ₽123

7.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽67.4

$0.45 ₽39.23

73.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.68 ₽405

$2.07 ₽179

126.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 ₽412

$2.89 ₽250

64.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽101

$1.05 ₽90.5

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₽83.5

$0.60 ₽51.5

61.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽139

$1.13 ₽97.5

42.48%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽160

$1.46 ₽127

26.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.72 ₽1,101

$11.92 ₽1,032

6.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.23 ₽539

$4.89 ₽423

27.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ₽1,166

$11.62 ₽1,005

15.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.90 ₽164

$1.80 ₽156

5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 ₽148

$1.66 ₽144

3.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽168

$1.42 ₽123

36.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 ₽341

$2.63 ₽228

49.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽71.2

$0.68 ₽59.0

20.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽55.1

$0.56 ₽48.40

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 ₽136

$1.48 ₽128

6.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₽75.2

$0.80 ₽69.3

8.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ₽273

$2.95 ₽255

6.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.64 ₽1,007

$6.99 ₽605

66.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽100

$1.29 ₽112

-10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₽208

$2.46 ₽213

-2.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽80.0

$0.47 ₽40.81

95.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.35 ₽3,405

$17.04 ₽1,475

130.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 ₽304

$2.88 ₽249

22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₽59.5

$0.17 ₽14.66

305.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.93 ₽773

$4.07 ₽353

119.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₽73.8

$0.76 ₽65.6

11.84%

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

$36.9K ₽3.2M

$29.6K ₽2.6M

24.62%

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

$38.1K ₽3.3M

$27.6K ₽2.4M

37.96%

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

$180 ₽15.6K

$123 ₽10.7K

46.40%

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

$8.22 ₽711

$6.47 ₽560

27.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.47 ₽819

$11.44 ₽990

-17.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.64 ₽3,171

$49.53 ₽4,286

-26.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.52 ₽3,766

$22.83 ₽1,976

90.63%

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 ₽683

$5.48 ₽474

43.98%

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

$738 ₽63.9K

$339 ₽29.3K

117.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.5K ₽1.9M

$6,632 ₽573.9K

238.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$96.0 ₽8,310

$102 ₽8,853

-6.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 ₽5,127

$61.0 ₽5,279

-2.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 ₽11.7K

$150 ₽13.0K

-9.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$169 ₽14.6K

$129 ₽11.2K

30.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽120.5K

$786 ₽68.0K

77.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₽64.3K

$449 ₽38.9K

65.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,793 ₽241.7K

$1,246 ₽107.8K

124.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ₽120.9K

$1,014 ₽87.8K

37.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.0K ₽868.7K

$2,399 ₽207.6K

318.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,413 ₽381.9K

$1,656 ₽143.3K

166.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,665 ₽144.1K

$889 ₽76.9K

87.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.86

22.33

-11.06%

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

Last update for Moscow: August 31, 2026

Last update for Yekaterinburg: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,393 in Moscow versus $786 in Yekaterinburg. 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 87% 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 $47.00 in Yekaterinburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $204 – making Yekaterinburg 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 Yekaterinburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 35% more than Yekaterinburg, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,896 in Yekaterinburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yekaterinburg, 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 Yekaterinburg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $738 per month in Moscow and $339 in Yekaterinburg. 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 Yekaterinburg, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Moscow at $1,707. In Yekaterinburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yekaterinburg costs $1,264 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 Yekaterinburg. 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.