🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,110 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,167 in Port Elizabeth.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,849 in Port Elizabeth.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,394 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $2,532 in Port Elizabeth.
🌍Living in Nizhny Novgorod costs roughly 5% less than in Port Elizabeth, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Nizhny Novgorod17% lower, Port Elizabeth13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.25₽879
$8.89R 146
26.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.61₽2,938
$44.06R 724
-14.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63₽440
$5.36R 88.2
5.04%
Cappuccino
$2.61₽204
$2.14R 35.22
21.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25₽97.5
$1.14R 18.70
9.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₽35.72
$1.00R 16.38
-54.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01₽78.8
$2.56R 42.11
-60.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12₽244
$3.02R 49.69
3.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽82.3
$1.12R 18.40
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61₽47.93
$0.95R 15.67
-35.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36₽106
$1.50R 24.63
-9.33%
Eggs
$1.59₽124
$2.45R 40.30
-35.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.52₽822
$7.79R 128
35.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.77₽373
$4.74R 78.0
0.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.73₽682
$8.03R 132
8.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73₽135
$1.64R 26.89
5.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69₽132
$1.42R 23.40
19.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93₽151
$1.63R 26.82
18.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53₽198
$1.63R 26.72
55.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₽55.1
$1.55R 25.55
-54.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71₽55.2
$1.12R 18.45
-36.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23₽96.4
$1.17R 19.29
5.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78₽60.9
$1.01R 16.57
-22.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87₽224
$2.95R 48.41
-2.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65₽754
$4.86R 79.8
98.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18₽91.8
$1.10R 18.09
7.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16₽169
$1.72R 28.20
25.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽38.09
$1.13R 18.61
-56.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.95₽1,324
$34.27R 563
-50.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.95₽152
$2.67R 43.87
-26.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₽46.31
$0.45R 7.42
31.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.63₽596
$7.95R 131
-4.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77₽59.8
$1.27R 20.83
-39.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K₽3.2M
$23.9KR 393.4K
71.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K₽2.5M
$25.8KR 423.5K
22.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110₽8,627
$114R 1,879
-3.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.73₽448
$31.86R 524
-82.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.22₽564
$44.72R 735
-83.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.19₽2,515
$29.14R 479
10.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25₽1,270
$21.28R 350
-23.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.31₽493
$9.73R 160
-35.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$332₽25.9K
$168R 2,763
97.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,908₽305.3K
$4,835R 79.5K
-19.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.9₽6,401
$67.2R 1,105
21.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$76.6₽5,982
$37.20R 612
105.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$143₽11.2K
$96.6R 1,588
48.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112₽8,768
$89.0R 1,462
26.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$590₽46.1K
$584R 9,602
0.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372₽29.1K
$438R 7,192
-14.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006₽78.6K
$1,097R 18.0K
-8.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$740₽57.8K
$870R 14.3K
-14.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995₽312.1K
$772R 12.7K
417.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491₽194.6K
$525R 8,636
374.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nizhny Novgorod
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$923₽72.1K
$1,623R 26.7K
-43.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.46
12.04
36.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: July 12, 2026
Last update for Port Elizabeth: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $590 in Nizhny Novgorod and $584 in Port Elizabeth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Port Elizabeth pays 76% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Nizhny Novgorod vs $44.00 in Port Elizabeth. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $181, with Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Elizabeth cheaper than Nizhny Novgorod?
Nizhny Novgorod is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Nizhny Novgorod or Port Elizabeth?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Port Elizabeth. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Nizhny Novgorod and Port Elizabeth?
Rent for a central apartment: $590 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $584 in Port Elizabeth. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $332 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $168 in Port Elizabeth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Nizhny Novgorod and in Port Elizabeth?
Shoppers in Port Elizabeth pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Nizhny Novgorod or in Port Elizabeth?
At $1,110 in Nizhny Novgorod versus $1,167 in Port Elizabeth, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizhny Novgorod but tight or insufficient in Port Elizabeth. The gap between the two cities makes Nizhny Novgorod the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Nizhny Novgorod or Port Elizabeth more family-friendly?
For families, Nizhny Novgorod is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Port Elizabeth, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nizhny Novgorod gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Port Elizabeth. 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