πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,011 in Kurgan, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,647 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,544 in Kurgan, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,276 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,076 in Kurgan, rent included.
πNovosibirsk costs about 1% more than Kurgan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Novosibirsk and Kurgan are more affordable than the global median β Novosibirsk24% lower, Kurgan25% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½544
$6.37β½465
17.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,725
$45.10β½3,292
-17.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½361
$5.75β½419
-13.91%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½210
$2.27β½166
26.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½98.8
$1.23β½89.5
9.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½61.3
$0.40β½28.93
110.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½183
$0.92β½67.0
171.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½282
$1.93β½141
100.00%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.3
$1.03β½75.3
6.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.37
$0.56β½41.09
1.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½123
$1.45β½106
16.55%
Eggs
$1.79β½131
$1.34β½98.1
33.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½798
$10.11β½738
8.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½373
$7.09β½518
-28.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½734
$11.51β½840
-12.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½153
$1.85β½135
12.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$2.05β½150
-5.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$2.04β½149
-5.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½245
$3.48β½254
-3.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.3
$1.11β½81.3
-31.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.95
$0.80β½58.2
-16.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½79.3
$0.58β½42.36
87.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½53.6
$0.55β½40.04
32.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½234
$2.49β½181
28.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½699
$5.72β½418
67.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.5
$0.90β½65.7
1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½149
$1.64β½120
24.39%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.76
$0.52β½38.20
1.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,310
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½135
$1.94β½142
-4.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.21
$0.33β½23.93
-24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½285
$5.45β½398
-28.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.2
$0.78β½56.6
-5.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.0M
$61.6Kβ½4.5M
-10.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½1.9M
$31.4Kβ½2.3M
-15.79%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,782
$140β½10.2K
-23.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½400
$5.16β½377
6.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½640
$7.60β½555
15.39%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,432
$36.13β½2,637
68.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,779
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½438
$3.91β½285
53.20%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½25.8K
$451β½33.0K
-21.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½343.2K
$4,504β½328.8K
4.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,103
$26.20β½1,913
166.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,913
$16.54β½1,207
141.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,052
$161β½11.7K
-39.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,683
$186β½13.6K
-58.20%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.3K
$450β½32.8K
4.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.0K
$305β½22.2K
-0.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½61.3K
$770β½56.2K
9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.2K
$514β½37.5K
25.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½225.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½145.9K
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Kurgan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½65.5K
$773β½56.5K
15.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
13.45
29.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kurgan: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Novosibirsk versus $450 in Kurgan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 16% higher in Novosibirsk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Novosibirsk versus $45.00 in Kurgan. Groceries tell a different story β $210 in Novosibirsk vs $208 in Kurgan β so Kurgan 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 Kurgan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kurgan cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Yes β Novosibirsk is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,526 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,517 in Kurgan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 vs Kurgan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Novosibirsk and $1,011 in Kurgan. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Novosibirsk and $451 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 Novosibirsk or Kurgan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kurgan, where all-in costs run around $1,011, than in Novosibirsk at $1,017. 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 β 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