😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,140 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,017 in Kazan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,787 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,656 in Kazan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,434 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $2,295 in Kazan.
🌍Living in Nizhny Novgorod is roughly 12% more expensive than in Kazan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nizhny Novgorod17% lower, Kazan26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17₽1,490
$9.46₽821
81.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9₽4,421
$35.38₽3,071
43.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.03₽611
$5.62₽488
25.09%
Cappuccino
$2.80₽243
$3.12₽271
-10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41₽123
$1.22₽106
15.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63₽54.7
$0.49₽42.96
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70₽148
$1.72₽149
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50₽217
$2.38₽207
5.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15₽99.9
$1.06₽92.5
8.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70₽60.5
$0.69₽59.9
1.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29₽112
$1.40₽122
-7.86%
Eggs
$1.40₽121
$1.64₽142
-14.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.22₽974
$10.17₽883
10.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80₽416
$4.40₽382
9.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.89₽946
$9.51₽826
14.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67₽145
$1.81₽157
-7.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68₽146
$1.64₽142
2.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71₽149
$2.03₽176
-15.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23₽280
$2.83₽245
14.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74₽64.6
$0.79₽69.0
-6.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59₽51.1
$0.52₽45.33
13.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37₽119
$1.54₽134
-11.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69₽59.7
$0.62₽53.9
11.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09₽268
$2.93₽255
5.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91₽687
$6.99₽607
13.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07₽92.7
$1.03₽89.1
3.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95₽169
$1.62₽140
20.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48₽41.27
$0.55₽48.00
-12.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.31₽1,416
$23.51₽2,041
-30.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35₽204
$2.05₽178
14.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39₽34.12
$0.48₽41.48
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.17₽709
$6.85₽594
19.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82₽71.1
$0.81₽70.4
1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K₽3.0M
$35.9K₽3.1M
-4.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K₽3.0M
$42.5K₽3.7M
-19.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130₽11.2K
$101₽8,798
27.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.29₽546
$5.61₽487
12.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.89₽685
$6.61₽574
19.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.78₽2,411
$28.70₽2,491
-3.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.11₽2,180
$36.58₽3,176
-31.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91₽600
$5.86₽509
17.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304₽26.4K
$282₽24.5K
7.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,637₽576.2K
$12.5K₽1.1M
-47.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8₽5,715
$78.1₽6,782
-15.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2₽4,704
$90.2₽7,832
-39.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107₽9,255
$76.2₽6,615
39.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9₽8,669
$83.3₽7,230
19.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563₽48.9K
$601₽52.2K
-6.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392₽34.0K
$357₽31.0K
9.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891₽77.3K
$1,032₽89.6K
-13.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636₽55.2K
$703₽61.0K
-9.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,405₽295.6K
$3,799₽329.8K
-10.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,121₽184.1K
$2,484₽215.7K
-14.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nizhny Novgorod
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$794₽68.9K
$873₽75.8K
-9.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.38
20.8
-2.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kazan: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $563 in Nizhny Novgorod and $601 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kazan pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Nizhny Novgorod vs $35.00 in Kazan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $191 per month, with Kazan cheaper across the board.
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 in Kazan?
Nizhny Novgorod and Kazan differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,140 vs $1,017 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, salaries run 10% lower in Kazan. 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 in Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $563 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $601 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 $35.00 versus $51.0 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 $1,140 per month in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,017 in Kazan – a 12% 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 $1,017 in Kazan versus $1,140 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 12% 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