πA single person spends $1,002 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,096 in Ishim, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,639 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,651 in Ishim, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,275 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,205 in Ishim, rent included.
πNovosibirsk is about 9% cheaper than Ishim, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Novosibirsk and Ishim are more affordable than the global median β Novosibirsk25% lower, Ishim18% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58β½549
$10.09β½731
-24.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.54β½2,720
$35.16β½2,548
6.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21β½378
$8.96β½649
-41.85%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½207
$2.59β½187
10.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38β½100
$0.92β½66.4
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.1
$0.55β½39.76
56.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½185
$1.11β½80.2
129.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80β½275
$1.85β½134
105.41%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½75.8
$1.14β½82.3
-7.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62β½44.62
$0.64β½46.14
-3.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½121
$1.27β½92.4
31.50%
Eggs
$1.85β½134
$1.66β½121
11.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½771
$10.71β½776
-0.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18β½375
$4.22β½306
22.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08β½730
$12.51β½906
-19.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10β½152
$1.69β½122
24.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88β½136
$1.82β½132
3.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½140
$1.78β½129
8.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50β½254
$2.25β½163
55.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½53.8
$0.90β½65.0
-17.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½48.99
$0.67β½48.90
1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½81.7
$1.02β½74.0
10.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½52.0
$0.70β½50.5
2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22β½234
$2.90β½210
11.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70β½703
$7.33β½531
32.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.4
$1.00β½72.2
-14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½156
$1.24β½90.2
74.19%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.41
$0.50β½36.00
6.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.64β½2,293
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93β½140
$3.02β½219
-36.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.11
$0.24β½17.42
4.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.78β½274
$6.05β½438
-37.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.72β½51.9
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
$25.7Kβ½1.9M
117.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
$23.0Kβ½1.7M
17.10%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104β½7,552
$159β½11.5K
-34.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51β½399
$4.90β½355
12.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.52β½618
$10.69β½774
-20.30%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9β½4,341
$36.06β½2,613
66.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02β½1,813
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.17β½447
$4.51β½327
36.81%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350β½25.4K
$179β½13.0K
95.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,694β½340.1K
$8,601β½623.2K
-45.42%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½4,983
$99.1β½7,177
-30.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32β½2,922
$46.46β½3,367
-13.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8β½6,944
$152β½11.0K
-36.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7β½5,772
$161β½11.7K
-50.53%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477β½34.6K
$443β½32.1K
7.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298β½21.6K
$300β½21.8K
-0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839β½60.8K
$752β½54.5K
11.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658β½47.6K
$514β½37.3K
27.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064β½222.0K
$2,261β½163.8K
35.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,935β½140.2K
$1,523β½110.4K
27.08%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Ishim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885β½64.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
22.38
-22.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ishim: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Novosibirsk versus $443 in Ishim. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Novosibirsk versus $35.00 in Ishim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $197 β making Ishim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Ishim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ishim cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Yes β Ishim is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,644 in Ishim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novosibirsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Ishim?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Ishim β one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Ishim?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novosibirsk, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Ishim at $1,096. In Novosibirsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ishim it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novosibirsk or Ishim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novosibirsk β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Novosibirsk or Ishim?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Novosibirsk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ishim makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared