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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,047 per month in Novosibirsk vs $915 in Kostroma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,703 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,420 in Kostroma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,359 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,925 in Kostroma, rent included.

Novosibirsk costs about 14% more than Kostroma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Novosibirsk and Kostroma are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 24% lower, Kostroma 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.13 ₽698

$17.27 ₽1,483

-52.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.10 ₽3,527

$51.7 ₽4,438

-20.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 ₽482

$7.13 ₽612

-21.18%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ₽240

$2.86 ₽245

-2.10%

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

$1.17 ₽100

$1.46 ₽125

-19.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽57.6

$0.66 ₽56.7

1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₽97.8

$1.72 ₽148

-33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 ₽409

$2.45 ₽210

94.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₽97.7

$1.15 ₽99.1

-0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 ₽58.4

$0.55 ₽47.51

23.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 ₽117

$1.32 ₽113

3.03%

Eggs

$1.66 ₽143

$1.21 ₽104

37.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 ₽965

$4.17 ₽357

169.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 ₽413

$3.47 ₽298

38.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.69 ₽917

$3.78 ₽325

182.80%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ₽162

$0.83 ₽70.9

127.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₽139

$1.52 ₽130

5.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 ₽156

$0.93 ₽80.0

95.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.03 ₽260

$1.34 ₽115

126.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ₽61.2

$0.74 ₽63.2

-4.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₽51.9

$0.42 ₽36.27

42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 ₽129

$1.02 ₽87.5

47.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₽54.8

$0.65 ₽55.4

-1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ₽277

$3.05 ₽262

5.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.22 ₽791

$5.06 ₽434

82.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₽77.4

$1.12 ₽95.9

-19.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 ₽147

$1.96 ₽168

-12.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 ₽46.67

$0.37 ₽31.54

45.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.05 ₽2,408

$20.39 ₽1,750

37.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 ₽197

$1.37 ₽118

67.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 ₽38.09

$0.14 ₽12.37

214.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 ₽496

$7.01 ₽602

-17.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽64.3

$0.76 ₽65.5

-1.32%

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

$23.5K ₽2.0M

-0.18%

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

$32.7K ₽2.8M

$26.4K ₽2.3M

23.72%

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

$108 ₽9,305

$125 ₽10.7K

-12.95%

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

$6.50 ₽558

$6.36 ₽546

2.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.95 ₽682

$7.64 ₽655

4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.24 ₽3,282

$28.93 ₽2,483

32.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.23 ₽2,594

$17.43 ₽1,496

73.44%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₽590

$6.96 ₽598

-1.15%

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

$292 ₽25.1K

$300 ₽25.8K

-2.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,591 ₽565.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 ₽6,029

$63.6 ₽5,460

10.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.27 ₽3,799

$52.6 ₽4,516

-15.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₽11.1K

$106 ₽9,138

20.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.8 ₽7,962

$102 ₽8,756

-9.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₽44.2K

$369 ₽31.6K

39.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₽29.7K

$211 ₽18.1K

64.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 ₽84.3K

$579 ₽49.7K

69.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₽60.1K

$345 ₽29.6K

103.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,496 ₽214.2K

$1,755 ₽150.7K

42.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,599 ₽137.2K

$856 ₽73.5K

86.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$805 ₽69.1K

$902 ₽77.4K

-10.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

14.15%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kostroma: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Novosibirsk versus $369 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 12% higher in Kostroma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Novosibirsk versus $52.0 in Kostroma. Groceries tell a different story – $205 in Novosibirsk vs $127 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

Novosibirsk costs about 14% more than Kostroma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,373 in Kostroma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kostroma, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Novosibirsk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Novosibirsk and $52.0 in Kostroma. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kostroma, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Novosibirsk at $1,047. In Kostroma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kostroma – 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 Kostroma. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Novosibirsk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.