Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Kazan Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Kazan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $892 in Murmansk versus $1,159 in Kazan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,209 in Murmansk versus $1,784 in Kazan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,527 in Murmansk versus $2,410 in Kazan.

Living in Murmansk costs roughly 23% less than in Kazan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Murmansk 35% lower, Kazan 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.55 ₽1,055

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.50 ₽3,152

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.94 ₽499

Cappuccino

$2.88 ₽242

$3.22 ₽271

-10.56%

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

$0.84 ₽70.2

$1.38 ₽116

-39.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽55.2

$0.54 ₽45.13

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 ₽143

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₽190

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 ₽94.9

$1.10 ₽92.3

2.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₽87.2

$0.72 ₽60.7

44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ₽103

$1.44 ₽121

-15.28%

Eggs

$2.27 ₽191

$1.46 ₽123

55.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.13 ₽1,776

$11.08 ₽931

90.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ₽277

$4.35 ₽365

-24.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 ₽870

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 ₽155

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₽135

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 ₽152

Tomato (1kg)

$2.89 ₽243

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₽72.4

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 ₽44.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.37 ₽115

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽61.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 ₽243

Wine (Bottle)

$7.35 ₽618

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽85.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₽156

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₽47.51

$0.53 ₽44.14

7.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.14 ₽2,533

$18.48 ₽1,553

63.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 ₽193

$2.39 ₽201

-3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 ₽45.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 ₽418

$6.79 ₽571

-26.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₽71.9

$0.80 ₽67.4

7.50%

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

$30.8K ₽2.6M

$35.0K ₽2.9M

-11.87%

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

$20.7K ₽1.7M

$41.3K ₽3.5M

-49.87%

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

$150 ₽12.6K

$124 ₽10.4K

21.06%

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

$7.60 ₽639

$6.08 ₽511

25.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.94 ₽500

$6.78 ₽570

-12.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.26 ₽2,711

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.92 ₽2,431

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ₽537

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

$283 ₽23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,157 ₽517.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$172 ₽14.5K

$88.8 ₽7,461

94.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.08 ₽3,873

$89.3 ₽7,506

-48.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$173 ₽14.5K

$104 ₽8,724

66.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 ₽6,828

$76.2 ₽6,402

6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$412 ₽34.6K

$671 ₽56.4K

-38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 ₽24.7K

$408 ₽34.3K

-28.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₽49.6K

$1,084 ₽91.1K

-45.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ₽33.6K

$760 ₽63.9K

-47.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,273 ₽359.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,346 ₽197.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$978 ₽82.2K

$938 ₽78.8K

4.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

44.23%

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

Last update for Murmansk: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kazan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $412 in Murmansk and $671 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Murmansk pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Murmansk vs Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Murmansk and Kazan differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($892 vs $1,159 including rent). Murmansk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Murmansk, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $412 in Murmansk versus $671 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Murmansk runs roughly 63% less than in Kazan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $892 per month in Murmansk versus $1,159 in Kazan – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $892 in Murmansk versus $1,159 in Kazan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Murmansk but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Murmansk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Murmansk and Kazan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Murmansk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.