Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Novosibirsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Murmansk and Novosibirsk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $998 per month in Murmansk vs $1,002 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,523 per month in Murmansk vs $1,639 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,048 per month in Murmansk vs $2,275 in Novosibirsk, rent included.

Murmansk and Novosibirsk have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Murmansk and Novosibirsk are more affordable than the global median – Murmansk 26% lower, Novosibirsk 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 ₽681

$7.58 ₽545

24.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.66 ₽2,779

$37.54 ₽2,699

2.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 ₽391

$5.21 ₽375

4.41%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₽138

$2.86 ₽205

-32.87%

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

$0.86 ₽62.0

$1.38 ₽99.3

-37.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₽47.23

$0.86 ₽61.6

-23.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.41 ₽101

$2.55 ₽184

-44.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₽182

$3.80 ₽273

-33.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₽87.9

$1.05 ₽75.2

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 ₽54.3

$0.62 ₽44.27

22.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 ₽106

$1.67 ₽120

-11.38%

Eggs

$2.23 ₽160

$1.85 ₽133

20.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 ₽774

$10.64 ₽765

1.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 ₽341

$5.18 ₽373

-8.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.67 ₽624

$10.08 ₽725

-13.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.10 ₽151

-8.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 ₽133

$1.88 ₽135

-1.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ₽166

$1.93 ₽139

19.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.22 ₽375

$3.50 ₽252

49.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 ₽71.2

$0.74 ₽53.3

33.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽47.93

$0.68 ₽48.61

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₽97.5

$1.13 ₽81.0

20.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₽99.2

$0.72 ₽51.6

91.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.52 ₽253

$3.22 ₽232

9.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 ₽697

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽72.2

$0.86 ₽61.9

16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.16 ₽155

-10.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₽46.14

$0.53 ₽38.11

20.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.84 ₽1,211

$31.64 ₽2,275

-46.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ₽147

$1.93 ₽139

5.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 ₽149

$0.25 ₽17.97

728.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 ₽320

$3.78 ₽272

17.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽56.8

$0.76 ₽54.8

3.95%

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

$34.4K ₽2.5M

$55.8K ₽4.0M

-38.38%

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

$35.4K ₽2.5M

$26.9K ₽1.9M

31.61%

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

$108 ₽7,765

$104 ₽7,493

3.63%

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

$5.80 ₽417

$5.51 ₽396

5.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.60 ₽834

$8.52 ₽613

36.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.21 ₽2,532

$59.9 ₽4,308

-41.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.02 ₽1,799

Cinema Ticket

$4.08 ₽294

$6.17 ₽444

-33.87%

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

$327 ₽23.5K

$350 ₽25.2K

-6.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,870 ₽493.9K

$4,694 ₽337.5K

46.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 ₽3,825

$68.8 ₽4,944

-22.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.01 ₽3,236

$40.32 ₽2,899

11.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ₽8,256

$95.8 ₽6,890

19.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₽7,562

$79.7 ₽5,727

32.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$450 ₽32.3K

$477 ₽34.3K

-5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₽22.6K

$298 ₽21.4K

5.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 ₽45.3K

$839 ₽60.4K

-24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 ₽32.4K

$658 ₽47.3K

-31.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,064 ₽220.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,935 ₽139.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,137 ₽81.8K

$885 ₽63.6K

28.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.17

17.38

-1.21%

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

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $450 in Murmansk versus $477 in Novosibirsk. 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 29% higher in Murmansk. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Murmansk versus $38.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries tell a different story – $208 in Murmansk vs $210 in Novosibirsk – so Murmansk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,497 per month in Murmansk and $1,504 in Novosibirsk. 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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Novosibirsk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $327 per month in Murmansk and $350 in Novosibirsk. 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 Novosibirsk at $1,002. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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, Novosibirsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.