πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $964 in Kislovodsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Novosibirsk versus $1,477 in Kislovodsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,275 in Novosibirsk versus $1,990 in Kislovodsk.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 4% more expensive than Kislovodsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Kislovodsk28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58β½545
$9.43β½678
-19.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.54β½2,699
$38.53β½2,770
-2.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21β½375
$5.88β½423
-11.39%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½205
$2.29β½165
24.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38β½99.3
$1.07β½77.2
28.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½61.6
$0.52β½37.58
65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½184
$1.43β½103
78.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80β½273
$2.60β½187
46.15%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½75.2
$1.12β½80.2
-6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62β½44.27
$0.70β½50.0
-11.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½120
$1.38β½99.4
21.01%
Eggs
$1.85β½133
$1.71β½123
8.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½765
$10.69β½769
-0.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18β½373
$4.88β½351
6.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08β½725
$8.75β½629
15.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10β½151
$1.74β½125
20.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88β½135
$1.82β½131
3.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½139
$1.91β½137
1.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50β½252
$2.65β½191
32.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½53.3
$0.79β½56.5
-6.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½48.61
$0.67β½48.51
1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½81.0
$1.34β½96.5
-15.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½51.6
$0.66β½47.57
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22β½232
$3.02β½217
6.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70β½697
$7.32β½526
32.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β½61.9
$1.00β½72.2
-14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½155
$1.88β½135
14.89%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.11
$0.49β½35.02
8.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.64β½2,275
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93β½139
$1.86β½134
3.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½17.97
$0.32β½23.25
-21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.78β½272
$6.33β½455
-40.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½54.8
$0.78β½55.9
-2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
$33.7Kβ½2.4M
65.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
$36.1Kβ½2.6M
-25.50%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104β½7,493
$109β½7,837
-4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51β½396
$6.07β½436
-9.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.52β½613
$7.67β½551
11.08%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9β½4,308
$36.10β½2,596
65.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02β½1,799
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.17β½444
$5.18β½372
19.11%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350β½25.2K
$329β½23.7K
6.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,694β½337.5K
$7,048β½506.8K
-33.40%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½4,944
$70.8β½5,089
-2.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32β½2,899
$43.72β½3,144
-7.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8β½6,890
$112β½8,061
-14.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7β½5,727
$108β½7,794
-26.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477β½34.3K
$441β½31.7K
8.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298β½21.4K
$304β½21.8K
-1.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839β½60.4K
$747β½53.7K
12.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658β½47.3K
$503β½36.2K
30.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064β½220.3K
$2,445β½175.8K
25.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,935β½139.2K
$1,637β½117.7K
18.19%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885β½63.6K
$847β½60.9K
4.40%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kislovodsk: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Novosibirsk and $441 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Novosibirsk pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $39.00 in Kislovodsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $194, with Kislovodsk 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 Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kislovodsk cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Kislovodsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Kislovodsk?
Novosibirsk pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Kislovodsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Novosibirsk versus $441 in Kislovodsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Kislovodsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Novosibirsk vs Kislovodsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,002 per month in Novosibirsk versus $964 in Kislovodsk β a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Kislovodsk?
At $964 in Kislovodsk versus $1,002 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kislovodsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Kislovodsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Kislovodsk?
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 safer, Novosibirsk or Kislovodsk?
Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Kislovodsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kislovodsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 4% 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