Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Moscow Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Moscow

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $998 per month in Murmansk vs $1,689 in Moscow, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,523 per month in Murmansk vs $2,582 in Moscow, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Murmansk vs $3,475 in Moscow, rent included.

Murmansk is about 41% cheaper than Moscow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Murmansk sits 26% below the global median, while Moscow is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 ₽681

$12.95 ₽931

-26.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.66 ₽2,779

$57.0 ₽4,098

-32.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 ₽391

$6.31 ₽454

-13.79%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₽138

$3.31 ₽238

-41.99%

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

$0.86 ₽62.0

$1.40 ₽100

-38.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽47.23

$0.63 ₽45.27

4.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₽101

$4.35 ₽313

-67.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₽182

$4.53 ₽325

-44.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₽87.9

$1.35 ₽96.9

-9.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ₽54.3

$0.89 ₽63.8

-14.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽106

$1.68 ₽121

-11.90%

Eggs

$2.23 ₽160

$1.85 ₽133

20.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 ₽774

$12.94 ₽930

-16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₽341

$6.02 ₽433

-21.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.67 ₽624

$12.18 ₽876

-28.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽139

$1.94 ₽139

-0.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₽133

$2.06 ₽148

-9.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₽166

$2.27 ₽163

1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 ₽375

$4.04 ₽291

29.21%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽71.2

$0.98 ₽70.7

1.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽47.93

$0.79 ₽57.1

-15.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₽97.5

$1.69 ₽121

-19.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₽99.2

$0.79 ₽57.0

74.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 ₽253

$3.23 ₽232

8.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 ₽783

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽72.2

$1.11 ₽80.0

-9.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.41 ₽174

-19.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₽46.14

$0.90 ₽64.8

-28.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.84 ₽1,211

$38.34 ₽2,757

-56.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ₽147

$2.51 ₽180

-18.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 ₽149

$0.45 ₽32.21

360.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 ₽320

$7.93 ₽570

-43.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽56.8

$0.82 ₽58.8

-3.66%

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

$34.4K ₽2.5M

$37.4K ₽2.7M

-8.13%

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

$35.4K ₽2.5M

$36.6K ₽2.6M

-3.36%

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

$108 ₽7,765

$150 ₽10.8K

-27.88%

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

$5.80 ₽417

$8.15 ₽586

-28.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.60 ₽834

$8.04 ₽578

44.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.21 ₽2,532

$47.24 ₽3,396

-25.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 ₽2,470

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 ₽294

$6.45 ₽464

-36.74%

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

$327 ₽23.5K

$698 ₽50.2K

-53.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,870 ₽493.9K

$14.7K ₽1.1M

-53.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 ₽3,825

$87.6 ₽6,299

-39.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.01 ₽3,236

$52.8 ₽3,794

-14.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₽8,256

$131 ₽9,388

-12.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₽7,562

$160 ₽11.5K

-34.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₽32.3K

$1,310 ₽94.2K

-65.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₽22.6K

$740 ₽53.2K

-57.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₽45.3K

$2,942 ₽211.5K

-78.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₽32.4K

$1,435 ₽103.2K

-68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K ₽852.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,856 ₽349.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,137 ₽81.8K

$2,014 ₽144.8K

-43.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.17

24.39

-29.60%

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

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Last update for Moscow: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Murmansk versus $1,310 in Moscow. 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 77% 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 $39.00 in Murmansk versus $57.0 in Moscow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $246 – making Murmansk 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

Murmansk vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moscow costs about 69% more than Murmansk, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $1,497 per month in Murmansk and $2,533 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 128% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $327 per month in Murmansk and $698 in Moscow. 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 Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Moscow at $1,689. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moscow it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Murmansk costs $998 versus $1,689 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 Murmansk. 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.