πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Novosibirsk vs $969 in Kursk, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,647 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,392 in Kursk, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,276 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,815 in Kursk, rent included.
πNovosibirsk costs about 5% more than Kursk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth Novosibirsk and Kursk are more affordable than the global median β Novosibirsk24% lower, Kursk28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½544
$8.91β½651
-16.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,725
$25.45β½1,858
46.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½361
$5.66β½413
-12.54%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½210
$2.01β½147
42.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½98.8
$0.90β½65.9
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½61.3
$0.44β½32.34
90.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½183
$1.10β½80.0
127.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½282
$2.24β½164
72.32%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.3
$1.16β½84.8
-5.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.37
$0.73β½53.2
-21.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½123
$1.33β½97.4
27.07%
Eggs
$1.79β½131
$1.78β½130
0.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½798
$8.91β½650
22.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½373
$4.53β½331
12.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½734
$8.61β½629
16.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½153
$1.26β½91.7
65.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$1.54β½113
25.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$2.30β½168
-16.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½245
$3.50β½255
-4.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.97β½71.2
-21.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.95
$0.65β½47.27
3.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½79.3
$1.37β½99.8
-20.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½53.6
$0.73β½53.0
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½234
$3.12β½228
2.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½699
$8.20β½599
16.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.5
$0.91β½66.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½149
$1.82β½133
12.09%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.76
$0.34β½25.15
55.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,310
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½135
$4.96β½362
-62.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.21
$0.54β½39.72
-53.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½285
$3.79β½276
2.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.2
$0.74β½53.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.0M
$38.8Kβ½2.8M
41.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½1.9M
$41.0Kβ½3.0M
-35.52%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,782
$99.8β½7,283
6.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½400
$3.88β½283
41.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½640
$5.56β½406
57.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,432
$24.79β½1,809
144.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,779
$15.27β½1,115
59.59%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½438
$7.55β½551
-20.66%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½25.8K
$129β½9,439
173.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½343.2K
$7,046β½514.3K
-33.28%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,103
$61.4β½4,478
13.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,913
$37.80β½2,759
5.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,052
$118β½8,612
-18.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,683
$125β½9,113
-37.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.3K
$508β½37.1K
-7.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.0K
$313β½22.9K
-3.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½61.3K
$827β½60.4K
1.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.2K
$413β½30.2K
56.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½225.7K
$1,658β½121.0K
86.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½145.9K
$1,270β½92.7K
57.37%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Kursk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½65.5K
$825β½60.2K
8.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
12
44.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kursk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Novosibirsk versus $508 in Kursk. 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 9% 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 $25.00 in Kursk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $192 β making Kursk 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 Kursk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Novosibirsk and Kursk compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Novosibirsk, $969 in Kursk β roughly 5% apart. Novosibirsk costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Novosibirsk compared to Kursk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,454 in Kursk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Novosibirsk and Kursk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kursk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Novosibirsk or Kursk?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Novosibirsk and $969 in Kursk. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Novosibirsk and Kursk?
Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Novosibirsk and $129 in Kursk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kursk, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Novosibirsk at $1,017. In Kursk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Novosibirsk or Kursk?
Families tend to lean toward Kursk β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Novosibirsk and Kursk?
If budget matters most, go with Kursk. 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