Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novokuznetsk and Moscow

For one person, living is cheaper in Novokuznetsk: $1,435 a month against $1,922 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Moscow outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Novokuznetsk, Russia
Moscow, Russia
Novokuznetsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,435
/mo nomad
Moscow
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,922
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novokuznetsk and in Moscow

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Novokuznetsk and in Moscow actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,435 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $1,922 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $1,435
  • Moscow $1,922

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $2,941 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $2,321
  • Moscow $2,941

A family of three spends $3,206 per month in Novokuznetsk vs $3,960 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Novokuznetsk $3,206
  • Moscow $3,960

Novokuznetsk is about 25% cheaper than Moscow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Novokuznetsk and Moscow sit above the global median – Novokuznetsk by 5%, Moscow by 41%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.48 ₽1,005
$12.50 ₽1,007
-0.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.5 ₽4,954
$61.2 ₽4,932
0.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.85 ₽551
$7.65 ₽616
-10.46%
Cappuccino
$2.63 ₽212
$3.84 ₽309
-31.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 ₽171
$1.74 ₽140
21.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ₽92.2
$0.85 ₽68.7
34.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.22 ₽340
$4.83 ₽389
-12.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15 ₽495
$5.17 ₽417
18.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ₽118
$1.32 ₽107
10.61%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ₽69.8
$1.04 ₽83.9
-16.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 ₽114
$1.77 ₽143
-20.34%
Eggs
$1.67 ₽135
$2.02 ₽163
-17.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.85 ₽712
$15.08 ₽1,215
-41.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.45 ₽600
$6.86 ₽552
8.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.51 ₽766
$15.29 ₽1,231
-37.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 ₽165
$2.14 ₽172
-4.21%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 ₽183
$1.83 ₽148
24.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 ₽200
$2.03 ₽163
22.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.16 ₽335
$4.14 ₽333
0.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.89 ₽71.6
$0.94 ₽75.9
-5.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.57 ₽45.75
$0.77 ₽61.9
-25.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 ₽122
$1.69 ₽136
-10.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₽58.1
$1.01 ₽81.2
-28.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.64 ₽293
$3.71 ₽299
-1.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.25 ₽504
$12.23 ₽985
-48.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ₽146
$1.26 ₽101
43.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₽221
$2.73 ₽220
0.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 ₽50.8
$0.96 ₽77.3
-34.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.35 ₽2,525
$43.33 ₽3,489
-27.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₽149
$3.68 ₽296
-49.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₽48.17
$0.84 ₽67.5
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$12.33 ₽993
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₽72.3
$0.96 ₽77.3
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K ₽2.8M
$45.4K ₽3.7M
-24.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K ₽2.8M
$41.2K ₽3.3M
-15.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 ₽18.3K
$199 ₽16.0K
14.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.31 ₽428
$9.04 ₽728
-41.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.59 ₽531
$10.05 ₽809
-34.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ₽4,250
$44.51 ₽3,584
18.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.05 ₽2,339
$47.40 ₽3,817
-38.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.55 ₽608
$9.63 ₽776
-21.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$705 ₽56.8K
$898 ₽72.3K
-21.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ₽1.4M
$29.3K ₽2.4M
-39.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$147 ₽11.8K
$117 ₽9,397
25.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$85.9 ₽6,915
$69.4 ₽5,587
23.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$184 ₽14.8K
$153 ₽12.3K
20.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$371 ₽29.8K
$188 ₽15.1K
97.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 ₽37.8K
$1,533 ₽123.5K
-69.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$308 ₽24.8K
$860 ₽69.3K
-64.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$984 ₽79.3K
$3,127 ₽251.8K
-68.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$696 ₽56.0K
$1,552 ₽125.0K
-55.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,232 ₽179.8K
$10.5K ₽844.3K
-78.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,546 ₽124.5K
$4,981 ₽401.2K
-68.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novokuznetsk
Moscow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$590 ₽47.6K
$1,798 ₽144.8K
-67.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.75
19.58
16.19%

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

Last update for Novokuznetsk: October 24, 2026

Last update for Moscow: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Clothing & Footwear
Novokuznetsk
$354
Moscow
$237 33% $117
Accommodation & Living
Novokuznetsk
$308
Moscow
$860 179% $552
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novokuznetsk
$239
Moscow
$218 9% $21
Groceries & Markets
Novokuznetsk
$228
Moscow
$274 20.2% $46
Eating Out
Novokuznetsk
$198
Moscow
$214 7.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Novokuznetsk
$68
Moscow
$64 6% $4.1
Getting Around
Novokuznetsk
$39
Moscow
$55 42.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Novokuznetsk versus $1,533 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 in Moscow are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62 in Novokuznetsk versus $61 in Moscow. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Novokuznetsk vs $274 in Moscow – so Novokuznetsk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Novokuznetsk
🇷🇺 Moscow
🕒 Local time
09:04 9:04 AM
05:04 5:04 AM
4 h behind Novokuznetsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
544,583
12,700,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 80.53 RUB (100 RUB = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.92 RUB (100 RUB = 1.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novokuznetsk Moscow 3,120 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Novokuznetsk
  • Moscow

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Novokuznetsk vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Novokuznetsk or Moscow?
Moscow costs about 34% more than Novokuznetsk, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Novokuznetsk and in Moscow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,153 per month in Novokuznetsk and $2,883 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Novokuznetsk or Moscow?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novokuznetsk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $470 there versus $1,533 in Moscow.
How expensive is transport in Novokuznetsk compared to Moscow?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Novokuznetsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Are groceries more expensive in Novokuznetsk or in Moscow?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Moscow, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Novokuznetsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Novokuznetsk or to Moscow?
If budget matters most, go with Novokuznetsk. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moscow makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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