😐A single person spends $1,047 per month in Novosibirsk vs $787 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,703 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,281 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,359 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,774 in Kurgan, rent included.
😐Novosibirsk costs about 33% more than Kurgan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Novosibirsk and Kurgan are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk24% lower, Kurgan43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.13₽704
$6.18₽535
31.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.10₽3,556
$27.79₽2,405
47.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62₽486
$5.18₽448
8.49%
Cappuccino
$2.80₽242
$2.45₽212
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17₽101
$0.89₽77.2
31.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₽58.1
$0.45₽38.65
48.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.14₽98.6
$3.44₽298
-66.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77₽412
$4.12₽356
15.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14₽98.5
$1.03₽89.4
10.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₽58.8
$0.59₽51.3
15.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36₽118
$1.31₽113
3.82%
Eggs
$1.66₽144
$1.21₽105
37.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25₽973
$11.25₽974
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.82₽417
$5.04₽436
-4.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.69₽925
$9.55₽826
11.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89₽164
$1.53₽133
23.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61₽140
$1.67₽144
-3.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82₽157
$1.68₽145
8.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.03₽262
$2.55₽221
18.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₽61.7
$0.75₽65.1
-5.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60₽52.4
$0.71₽61.8
-15.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50₽130
$1.59₽138
-5.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64₽55.2
$0.53₽45.72
20.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23₽279
$2.71₽235
19.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.22₽798
$4.66₽403
97.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90₽78.0
$0.82₽70.7
9.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71₽148
$1.67₽145
2.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54₽47.06
$0.50₽43.00
8.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.05₽2,428
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30₽199
$1.76₽152
30.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44₽38.41
$0.60₽51.7
-26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.78₽500
$6.86₽593
-15.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽64.8
$0.77₽66.8
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K₽2.0M
$23.4K₽2.0M
0.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K₽2.8M
$28.7K₽2.5M
14.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108₽9,383
$72.8₽6,296
49.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.50₽562
$4.55₽394
42.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₽688
$8.15₽705
-2.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.24₽3,309
$44.37₽3,840
-13.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.23₽2,616
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.88₽595
$3.83₽331
79.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$292₽25.3K
$114₽9,847
157.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3₽6,080
$46.35₽4,011
51.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27₽3,831
$14.84₽1,284
198.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129₽11.1K
$77.7₽6,726
65.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8₽8,029
$65.7₽5,685
41.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515₽44.6K
$287₽24.9K
79.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346₽30.0K
$229₽19.8K
51.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$983₽85.0K
$572₽49.5K
71.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701₽60.6K
$511₽44.3K
36.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,496₽216.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,599₽138.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$805₽69.7K
$641₽55.5K
25.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22.83
20.34
12.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kurgan: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Novosibirsk versus $287 in Kurgan. 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 26% higher in Novosibirsk, 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 $41.00 in Novosibirsk versus $28.00 in Kurgan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $184 – making Kurgan 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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurgan cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Yes – Novosibirsk is pricier by about 33%, 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 $1,570 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,181 in Kurgan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kurgan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Novosibirsk and in Kurgan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,047 in Novosibirsk and $787 in Kurgan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $292 per month in Novosibirsk and $114 in Kurgan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Novosibirsk or in Kurgan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $787, than in Novosibirsk at $1,047. In Kurgan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Novosibirsk or Kurgan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kurgan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kurgan. 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.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared