πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Novosibirsk versus $962 in Abaza.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Novosibirsk versus $1,471 in Abaza.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,294 in Novosibirsk versus $1,979 in Abaza.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 5% more expensive than Abaza, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Abaza28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47β½561
$9.41β½707
-20.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.41β½2,810
$38.29β½2,876
-2.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00β½376
$5.69β½427
-12.13%
Cappuccino
$2.77β½208
$2.35β½177
17.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34β½100
$1.08β½80.8
24.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87β½65.2
$0.52β½39.24
67.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½192
$1.38β½103
84.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72β½279
$2.60β½196
43.08%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½78.9
$0.55β½41.43
90.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56β½42.36
$0.67β½50.0
-16.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61β½121
$1.42β½106
13.38%
Eggs
$1.88β½141
$1.77β½133
6.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69β½803
$10.97β½824
-2.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94β½371
$4.94β½371
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.22β½768
$8.64β½649
18.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07β½156
$1.79β½134
15.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87β½141
$1.88β½141
-0.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98β½149
$2.00β½150
-1.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34β½251
$2.71β½204
23.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80β½60.1
$0.79β½59.4
1.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½50.0
$0.71β½53.7
-5.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½82.0
$1.35β½101
-19.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½53.9
$0.67β½50.6
7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14β½236
$2.88β½217
9.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.55β½717
$8.58β½644
11.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87β½65.0
$0.94β½70.4
-7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½162
$1.91β½144
13.09%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½39.35
$0.50β½37.46
4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.43β½2,361
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88β½141
$1.94β½145
-3.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.77
$0.32β½24.37
-21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.86β½290
$6.40β½481
-39.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77β½57.5
$0.73β½55.0
5.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.2M
$33.6Kβ½2.5M
66.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1Kβ½2.0M
$35.8Kβ½2.7M
-24.23%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106β½7,931
$110β½8,246
-3.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½411
$5.89β½442
-6.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.71β½654
$7.77β½583
12.10%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.7β½4,485
$36.02β½2,706
65.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.25β½1,897
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.91β½444
$5.21β½392
13.44%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½26.6K
$318β½23.9K
11.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,695β½352.6K
$7,054β½529.8K
-33.45%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½5,163
$69.6β½5,229
-1.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38β½2,958
$45.22β½3,396
-12.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1β½7,140
$113β½8,450
-15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7β½6,059
$107β½8,037
-24.61%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471β½35.4K
$441β½33.1K
6.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309β½23.2K
$299β½22.4K
3.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818β½61.5K
$760β½57.1K
7.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639β½48.0K
$501β½37.6K
27.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,631β½197.6K
$2,162β½162.4K
21.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,582β½118.8K
$1,475β½110.8K
7.20%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$856β½64.3K
$1,297β½97.4K
-34.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
15.33
13.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: April 27, 2026
Last update for Abaza: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Novosibirsk and $441 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Abaza pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Abaza. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $193, with Abaza 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
Novosibirsk vs Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaza cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, 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: Novosibirsk or Abaza?
On paper, Abaza earns 52% less. 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 Novosibirsk and Abaza?
Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Novosibirsk versus $441 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $354 in Novosibirsk versus $318 in Abaza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Novosibirsk or Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza β a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $37.00 in Novosibirsk. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Abaza?
At $962 in Abaza versus $1,013 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Abaza?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abaza gentler on the wallet β expenses run 5% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared