Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Kostroma Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Kostroma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,128 in Kostroma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,647 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,719 in Kostroma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,276 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,310 in Kostroma, rent included.

Novosibirsk is about 10% cheaper than Kostroma, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Novosibirsk and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 24% lower, Kostroma 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₽544

$12.88 ₽940

-42.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.34 ₽2,725

$57.5 ₽4,199

-35.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ₽361

$6.26 ₽457

-20.93%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₽210

$3.20 ₽234

-10.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₽98.8

$1.40 ₽102

-3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₽61.3

$0.67 ₽48.80

25.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 ₽183

$4.40 ₽321

-43.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 ₽282

$4.43 ₽323

-12.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽80.3

$1.24 ₽90.5

-11.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₽41.37

$0.55 ₽39.84

3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽123

$1.58 ₽115

6.96%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽131

$1.47 ₽108

21.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₽798

$9.22 ₽673

18.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₽373

$4.54 ₽331

12.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ₽734

$9.87 ₽720

1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 ₽153

$1.48 ₽108

41.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₽141

$1.53 ₽112

26.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽141

$1.28 ₽93.3

50.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ₽245

$2.29 ₽168

46.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ₽55.3

$0.99 ₽72.3

-23.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽48.95

$0.72 ₽52.4

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$1.17 ₽85.1

-6.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.6

$0.64 ₽46.78

14.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽234

$3.16 ₽231

1.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 ₽699

$6.28 ₽459

52.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽66.5

$1.07 ₽78.0

-14.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₽149

$2.36 ₽172

-13.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽38.76

$0.46 ₽33.58

15.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.65 ₽2,310

$21.87 ₽1,596

44.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽135

$1.53 ₽112

20.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.21

$0.12 ₽8.86

108.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 ₽285

$7.52 ₽549

-48.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽54.2

$0.79 ₽57.8

-6.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$55.1K ₽4.0M

$26.0K ₽1.9M

112.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ₽1.9M

$29.5K ₽2.2M

-10.34%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$107 ₽7,782

$149 ₽10.9K

-28.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.48 ₽400

$7.91 ₽577

-30.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.77 ₽640

$5.04 ₽368

74.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ₽4,432

$25.50 ₽1,862

138.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 ₽1,779

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 ₽438

$6.49 ₽474

-7.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$354 ₽25.8K

$703 ₽51.3K

-49.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,701 ₽343.2K

$14.8K ₽1.1M

-68.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.9 ₽5,103

$87.5 ₽6,389

-20.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 ₽2,913

$52.5 ₽3,834

-24.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 ₽7,052

$134 ₽9,760

-27.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₽5,683

$164 ₽12.0K

-52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₽34.3K

$444 ₽32.4K

5.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽22.0K

$301 ₽22.0K

0.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 ₽61.3K

$768 ₽56.0K

9.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 ₽47.2K

$499 ₽36.4K

29.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,092 ₽225.7K

$2,088 ₽152.4K

48.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,999 ₽145.9K

$1,051 ₽76.7K

90.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₽65.5K

$1,075 ₽78.5K

-16.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.38

14.67

18.47%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kostroma: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Novosibirsk versus $444 in Kostroma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 20% higher in Kostroma, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Novosibirsk versus $58.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Novosibirsk vs $183 in Kostroma – so Kostroma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kostroma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kostroma costs about 11% more than Novosibirsk, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,692 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Kostroma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Novosibirsk and $58.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novosibirsk, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Kostroma at $1,128. In Novosibirsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kostroma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novosibirsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Novosibirsk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kostroma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.