Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Moscow and Zelenograd

For one person, living is cheaper in Zelenograd: $997 a month against $1,922 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

92

Cost of Living Index in Moscow
Learn more

Moscow Living Index
48

Cost of Living Index in Zelenograd
Learn more

Zelenograd Living Index

Jump to prices

Moscow

🇷🇺 Russia

$1,922

/mo nomad

Zelenograd

🇷🇺 Russia

$997

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Moscow and in Zelenograd

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Moscow and in Zelenograd actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,922 per month in Moscow vs $997 in Zelenograd, rent included.

Moscow $1,922
Zelenograd $997

A couple spends around $2,941 per month in Moscow vs $1,527 in Zelenograd, rent included.

Moscow $2,941
Zelenograd $1,527

A family of three spends $3,960 per month in Moscow vs $2,058 in Zelenograd, rent included.

Moscow $3,960
Zelenograd $2,058

Moscow costs about 93% more than Zelenograd, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Moscow sits 41% above the global median, while Zelenograd is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.50 ₽1,007

$6.03 ₽486

107.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 ₽4,934

$30.64 ₽2,468

99.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 ₽616

$8.07 ₽650

-5.20%

Cappuccino

$3.84 ₽309

$2.88 ₽232

33.33%

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

$1.74 ₽140

$0.94 ₽75.9

85.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₽68.7

$0.61 ₽49.03

39.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.83 ₽389

$0.96 ₽77.3

403.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.17 ₽417

$1.45 ₽116

256.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ₽107

$0.92 ₽74.5

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₽83.9

$0.84 ₽67.4

23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 ₽143

$1.21 ₽97.3

46.28%

Eggs

$2.02 ₽163

$1.59 ₽128

27.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 ₽1,215

$9.11 ₽734

65.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 ₽553

$5.10 ₽411

34.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.29 ₽1,232

$12.60 ₽1,015

21.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₽172

$1.63 ₽132

31.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₽148

$1.52 ₽122

20.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ₽163

$1.64 ₽132

23.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.14 ₽334

$2.69 ₽217

53.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ₽75.9

$0.70 ₽56.4

34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 ₽61.9

$0.41 ₽33.43

87.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 ₽136

$1.52 ₽122

11.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₽81.2

$0.45 ₽36.19

124.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 ₽299

$2.21 ₽178

67.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 ₽985

$7.27 ₽586

68.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₽101

$0.75 ₽60.5

68.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₽220

$1.53 ₽123

78.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₽77.3

$0.62 ₽49.81

54.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.33 ₽3,490

$24.30 ₽1,957

78.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 ₽296

$3.82 ₽308

-3.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 ₽67.5

$0.18 ₽14.89

366.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.33 ₽993

$3.75 ₽302

228.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₽77.4

$0.81 ₽65.4

18.52%

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

$45.4K ₽3.7M

$54.7K ₽4.4M

-17.00%

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

$41.2K ₽3.3M

0.10%

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

$199 ₽16.0K

$107 ₽8,626

85.70%

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

$9.04 ₽728

$3.67 ₽296

146.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.05 ₽809

$4.94 ₽398

103.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.51 ₽3,585

$37.48 ₽3,019

18.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.40 ₽3,819

$23.97 ₽1,931

97.75%

Cinema Ticket

$9.63 ₽776

$6.36 ₽512

51.42%

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

$898 ₽72.4K

$182 ₽14.7K

392.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.3K ₽2.4M

$3,690 ₽297.3K

693.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$117 ₽9,400

$43.45 ₽3,500

168.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.4 ₽5,589

$24.87 ₽2,003

178.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$153 ₽12.3K

$146 ₽11.7K

5.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$188 ₽15.1K

$126 ₽10.2K

48.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₽123.5K

$551 ₽44.4K

178.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$860 ₽69.3K

$333 ₽26.8K

158.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,127 ₽251.9K

$840 ₽67.7K

272.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,552 ₽125.0K

$567 ₽45.7K

173.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.5K ₽844.6K

$2,266 ₽182.6K

362.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,981 ₽401.3K

$1,511 ₽121.7K

229.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,798 ₽144.9K

$998 ₽80.4K

80.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.58

8.78%

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

Last update for Moscow: October 25, 2026

Last update for Zelenograd: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Moscow

$860 44.7%

Zelenograd

$333 33.4% 61.3% $527

Groceries & Markets

Moscow

$274 14.3%

Zelenograd

$192 19.3% 29.8% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Moscow

$237 12.3%

Zelenograd

$153 15.4% 35.5% $84

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Moscow

$218 11.3%

Zelenograd

$116 11.6% 46.9% $102

Eating Out

Moscow

$214 11.1%

Zelenograd

$121 12.1% 43.5% $93

Sport & Entertainment

Moscow

$64 3.3%

Zelenograd

$50 5% 21.3% $14

Getting Around

Moscow

$55 2.9%

Zelenograd

$32 3.2% 42.7% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,533 in Moscow versus $551 in Zelenograd. 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 80% 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 $61 in Moscow versus $31 in Zelenograd. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $192 – making Zelenograd the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇷🇺 Moscow

🇷🇺 Zelenograd

🕒 Local time

20:02 8:02 PM

Same time as Moscow

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

12,700,000 Capital

223,902

💱 Currency

Russian Ruble RUB ₽

📈 Exchange rate

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 EUR

100 RUB = 1.24 USD

100 RUB = 1.11 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Moscow Zelenograd 38 km

From you

Moscow
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Zelenograd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 93% more than Zelenograd, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 $2,883 per month in Moscow and $1,495 in Zelenograd. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zelenograd, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $551 there versus $1,533 in Moscow.

Public transport costs about 44% less in Zelenograd. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $898 per month in Moscow and $182 in Zelenograd. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Families tend to lean toward Zelenograd – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zelenograd. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.