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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,648 per month in Moscow vs $1,158 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,603 per month in Moscow vs $1,838 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,557 per month in Moscow vs $2,519 in Yekaterinburg, rent included.

Moscow costs about 42% more than Yekaterinburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Moscow sits 23% above the global median, while Yekaterinburg is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.91 ₽953

$13.56 ₽1,000

-4.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₽4,192

$49.97 ₽3,687

13.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 ₽463

$6.49 ₽479

-3.24%

Cappuccino

$3.16 ₽233

$2.71 ₽200

16.61%

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

$1.38 ₽102

$1.42 ₽105

-2.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽50.3

$0.60 ₽44.47

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.54 ₽335

$1.93 ₽142

135.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 ₽333

$2.24 ₽166

101.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 ₽97.9

$1.15 ₽84.9

15.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₽65.5

$0.70 ₽51.8

27.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 ₽130

$1.41 ₽104

24.82%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽137

$1.63 ₽121

13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.90 ₽952

$12.45 ₽919

3.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.89 ₽435

$4.72 ₽349

24.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.24 ₽903

$11.68 ₽862

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽140

$2.05 ₽151

-7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₽156

$1.90 ₽140

11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₽174

$2.41 ₽178

-2.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 ₽306

$2.93 ₽216

41.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 ₽72.4

$0.69 ₽51.1

42.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 ₽62.4

$0.80 ₽58.7

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 ₽127

$1.36 ₽100

26.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.71 ₽52.4

14.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.10 ₽229

$2.47 ₽183

25.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.90 ₽804

$8.17 ₽603

33.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 ₽80.1

$1.14 ₽84.3

-4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ₽175

$2.48 ₽183

-4.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽64.4

$0.44 ₽32.46

97.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.26 ₽2,824

$25.34 ₽1,870

50.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 ₽186

$2.54 ₽187

-0.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 ₽34.89

$0.32 ₽23.92

46.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₽597

$6.93 ₽511

16.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₽59.9

$0.76 ₽56.0

6.58%

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

$38.1K ₽2.8M

$31.6K ₽2.3M

20.78%

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

$37.2K ₽2.7M

$47.1K ₽3.5M

-21.03%

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

$151 ₽11.1K

$127 ₽9,407

18.38%

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

$7.97 ₽588

$7.10 ₽524

12.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₽590

$9.57 ₽706

-16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.81 ₽3,454

$40.96 ₽3,023

14.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.68 ₽2,559

$18.79 ₽1,387

84.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.26 ₽462

$5.25 ₽388

19.24%

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

$707 ₽52.1K

$475 ₽35.0K

48.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.1M

$8,844 ₽652.6K

64.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.9 ₽6,484

$69.0 ₽5,088

27.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.3 ₽3,935

$46.05 ₽3,398

15.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₽9,631

$101 ₽7,422

29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 ₽11.7K

$74.8 ₽5,519

112.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 ₽97.2K

$584 ₽43.1K

125.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 ₽54.1K

$384 ₽28.4K

90.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,005 ₽221.7K

$1,124 ₽82.9K

167.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,393 ₽102.8K

$779 ₽57.5K

78.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.7K ₽865.8K

$2,912 ₽214.9K

302.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,027 ₽370.9K

$1,920 ₽141.7K

161.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,075 ₽153.1K

$1,027 ₽75.8K

102.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.39

16.39

48.81%

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

Last update for Moscow: June 2, 2026

Last update for Yekaterinburg: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Moscow versus $584 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 102% 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 $50.0 in Yekaterinburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $247 vs $217 – 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 42% more than Yekaterinburg, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,473 per month in Moscow and $1,737 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 51% less in Yekaterinburg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $707 per month in Moscow and $475 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 $1,158, than in Moscow at $1,648. 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 $1,158 versus $1,648 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.