😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,093 in Kazan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,776 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,692 in Kazan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,420 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $2,291 in Kazan.
😐Living in Nizhny Novgorod is roughly 3% more expensive than Kazan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nizhny Novgorod16% lower, Kazan18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.28₽823
$7.47₽545
51.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.77₽2,830
$38.40₽2,802
0.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.60₽409
$6.40₽467
-12.50%
Cappuccino
$2.66₽194
$3.06₽223
-13.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30₽94.7
$1.12₽81.7
16.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₽30.99
$0.78₽56.7
-46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03₽75.5
$3.85₽281
-73.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14₽230
$4.73₽345
-33.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽76.7
$1.08₽78.5
-2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57₽41.81
$0.72₽52.8
-20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31₽96.0
$1.46₽106
-10.27%
Eggs
$1.53₽112
$1.95₽142
-21.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.59₽773
$10.98₽801
-3.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.74₽346
$4.82₽352
-1.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.94₽652
$9.36₽683
-4.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75₽128
$1.94₽141
-9.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68₽122
$1.94₽141
-13.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96₽143
$2.42₽177
-19.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51₽183
$2.38₽173
5.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₽51.5
$0.66₽48.46
7.58%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₽52.1
$0.59₽43.15
20.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20₽87.9
$1.52₽111
-21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₽57.1
$0.60₽44.09
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₽213
$3.26₽238
-10.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.14₽813
$8.95₽653
24.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17₽85.4
$0.99₽72.6
18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₽158
$1.89₽138
14.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₽39.01
$0.57₽41.38
-7.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.96₽1,238
$25.24₽1,842
-32.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.86₽136
$1.24₽90.8
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55₽40.38
$0.25₽18.25
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.55₽551
$5.59₽408
35.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79₽57.4
$0.71₽51.8
11.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K₽3.0M
$37.9K₽2.8M
9.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K₽2.3M
$44.5K₽3.2M
-28.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₽8,115
$104₽7,609
6.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.52₽403
$5.71₽417
-3.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.45₽544
$6.47₽472
15.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.67₽2,312
$23.77₽1,735
33.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.12₽1,177
$18.74₽1,368
-13.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.22₽454
$5.72₽418
8.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332₽24.2K
$254₽18.6K
30.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,874₽282.8K
$7,002₽511.1K
-44.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6₽5,955
$66.2₽4,834
23.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.5₽5,657
$43.92₽3,206
76.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$147₽10.7K
$104₽7,623
40.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₽8,235
$100₽7,321
12.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578₽42.2K
$626₽45.7K
-7.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368₽26.9K
$424₽31.0K
-13.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$984₽71.8K
$1,040₽75.9K
-5.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$735₽53.7K
$684₽49.9K
7.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,267₽311.5K
$4,848₽353.8K
-11.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,623₽191.5K
$2,879₽210.1K
-8.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$948₽69.2K
$976₽71.2K
-2.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.46
18.15
-9.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kazan: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $578 in Nizhny Novgorod and $626 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kazan pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Nizhny Novgorod vs $38.00 in Kazan. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $203, with Nizhny Novgorod cheaper for home cooking.
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
Nizhny Novgorod vs Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan?
Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,131 vs $1,093 including rent). Kazan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kazan earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $578 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $626 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kazan – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $39.00 in Nizhny Novgorod. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nizhny Novgorod or Kazan?
All in, you'll spend $1,131 per month in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,093 in Kazan – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,093 in Kazan versus $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kazan but tight or insufficient in Nizhny Novgorod. The gap between the two cities makes Kazan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan?
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.
Is Nizhny Novgorod or Kazan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nizhny Novgorod 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.
Where should expats move: Nizhny Novgorod or Kazan?
Expats usually find Kazan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Nizhny Novgorod. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Nizhny Novgorod vs other spots: cost of living compared