Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Kislovodsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Kislovodsk: $1,017 a month against $1,121 in Novosibirsk, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Novosibirsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,121
/mo nomad
Kislovodsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,017
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novosibirsk and in Kislovodsk

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Novosibirsk versus $1,017 in Kislovodsk.

  • Novosibirsk $1,121
  • Kislovodsk $1,017

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,786 in Novosibirsk versus $1,644 in Kislovodsk.

  • Novosibirsk $1,786
  • Kislovodsk $1,644

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,451 in Novosibirsk versus $2,272 in Kislovodsk.

  • Novosibirsk $2,451
  • Kislovodsk $2,272

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 10% more expensive than in Kislovodsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 17% lower, Kislovodsk 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.52 ₽962
$11.88 ₽992
-3.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.38 ₽4,038
$38.01 ₽3,173
27.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.06 ₽506
$5.40 ₽451
12.22%
Cappuccino
$2.66 ₽222
$2.74 ₽229
-2.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₽92.7
$1.15 ₽95.9
-3.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₽47.92
$0.61 ₽50.8
-6.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₽98.5
$1.84 ₽154
-35.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ₽300
$2.86 ₽238
25.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 ₽100
$1.17 ₽98.0
2.56%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 ₽58.5
$0.79 ₽65.7
-11.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 ₽114
$1.43 ₽120
-4.20%
Eggs
$1.61 ₽135
$1.46 ₽122
10.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.06 ₽1,007
$11.61 ₽969
3.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 ₽401
$5.40 ₽450
-11.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.01 ₽1,002
$11.25 ₽939
6.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ₽164
$1.78 ₽149
10.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 ₽149
$1.97 ₽165
-9.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ₽163
$1.93 ₽161
1.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.30 ₽275
$2.66 ₽222
24.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₽73.0
$0.83 ₽69.2
4.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 ₽50.0
$0.59 ₽48.93
1.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 ₽122
$1.25 ₽105
17.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₽66.6
$0.82 ₽68.8
-2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 ₽266
$2.99 ₽249
6.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 ₽846
$6.83 ₽570
48.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₽79.4
$1.06 ₽88.1
-10.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₽138
$1.95 ₽163
-15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 ₽46.81
$0.55 ₽45.87
1.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.40 ₽2,453
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.41 ₽201
$2.75 ₽230
-12.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 ₽41.11
$0.31 ₽26.19
58.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 ₽514
$5.45 ₽455
13.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 ₽73.1
$0.84 ₽70.0
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8K ₽3.6M
$52.7K ₽4.4M
-18.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K ₽3.2M
$38.6K ₽3.2M
0.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₽9,089
$116 ₽9,669
-5.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.32 ₽611
$5.69 ₽475
28.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.35 ₽697
$7.44 ₽621
12.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.80 ₽3,155
$33.19 ₽2,770
13.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.99 ₽2,503
$27.21 ₽2,271
10.22%
Cinema Ticket
$7.29 ₽609
$6.19 ₽517
17.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ₽25.3K
$305 ₽25.4K
-0.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$7,051 ₽588.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 ₽5,865
$86.4 ₽7,208
-18.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.16 ₽3,852
$53.5 ₽4,465
-13.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 ₽11.7K
$119 ₽9,902
18.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.3 ₽8,201
$99.5 ₽8,304
-1.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 ₽45.6K
$518 ₽43.3K
5.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 ₽30.6K
$298 ₽24.9K
22.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 ₽84.8K
$885 ₽73.9K
14.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 ₽56.1K
$625 ₽52.2K
7.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,352 ₽196.3K
$2,022 ₽168.7K
16.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,778 ₽148.4K
$1,648 ₽137.6K
7.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Kislovodsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₽74.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.83
21.45
6.43%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: October 20, 2026

Last update for Kislovodsk: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
$367
Kislovodsk
$298 18.6% $68
Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
$220
Kislovodsk
$210 4.4% $9.7
Eating Out
Novosibirsk
$162
Kislovodsk
$166 2.5% $4
Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
$160
Kislovodsk
$161 0.9% $1.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
$125
Kislovodsk
$129 3.5% $4.4
Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
$52
Kislovodsk
$46 13% $6.8
Getting Around
Novosibirsk
$37
Kislovodsk
$6.5 * 82.1% $30

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $546 in Novosibirsk and $518 in Kislovodsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Kislovodsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $210 per month, with Kislovodsk cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Novosibirsk
🇷🇺 Kislovodsk
🕒 Local time
19:08 7:08 PM
15:08 3:08 PM
4 h behind Novosibirsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,620,162
127,919
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novosibirsk Kislovodsk 3,100 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Novosibirsk
  • Kislovodsk

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
Novosibirsk vs Kislovodsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kislovodsk cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Kislovodsk is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,682 in Novosibirsk and $1,525 in Kislovodsk to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Kislovodsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $546 in Novosibirsk versus $518 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 in Kislovodsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Novosibirsk and in Kislovodsk?
All in, you'll spend $1,121 per month in Novosibirsk versus $1,017 in Kislovodsk – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Novosibirsk or in Kislovodsk?
At $1,017 in Kislovodsk versus $1,121 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 in Kislovodsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – 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 – expenses run 10% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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