Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Magadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Magadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,089 in Novosibirsk versus $557 in Magadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,710 in Novosibirsk versus $1,087 in Magadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,332 in Novosibirsk versus $1,617 in Magadan.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 95% more expensive than in Magadan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 21% lower, Magadan 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.86 ₽997

$22.85 ₽1,920

-48.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.53 ₽3,490

$63.7 ₽5,353

-34.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ₽492

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽208

$3.68 ₽310

-32.88%

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

$1.10 ₽92.8

$1.36 ₽115

-19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₽47.92

$0.91 ₽76.7

-37.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₽95.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₽285

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₽95.9

$1.64 ₽138

-30.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ₽53.0

$1.11 ₽93.1

-43.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₽120

$1.36 ₽114

5.15%

Eggs

$1.64 ₽138

$2.88 ₽242

-43.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 ₽964

$13.75 ₽1,156

-16.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 ₽420

$9.46 ₽795

-47.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 ₽944

$14.42 ₽1,212

-22.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽156

$3.61 ₽303

-48.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₽132

$3.34 ₽281

-52.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₽158

$3.15 ₽265

-40.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₽266

$7.11 ₽598

-55.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₽66.5

$1.17 ₽98.4

-32.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₽51.1

$1.11 ₽93.0

-45.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 ₽127

$0.85 ₽71.4

77.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₽59.9

$1.12 ₽94.5

-36.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₽259

$2.84 ₽239

8.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 ₽886

$10.87 ₽913

-3.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽84.1

$1.96 ₽164

-48.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₽146

$2.28 ₽191

-24.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽44.69

$0.99 ₽83.1

-46.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.33 ₽2,381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽176

$2.84 ₽239

-26.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 ₽38.62

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 ₽479

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽64.0

$0.81 ₽68.0

-6.17%

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

$23.4K ₽2.0M

$21.4K ₽1.8M

9.73%

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

$32.6K ₽2.7M

$32.1K ₽2.7M

1.54%

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

$109 ₽9,202

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

$7.02 ₽590

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.38 ₽704

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.86 ₽3,182

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.81 ₽2,338

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₽582

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

$289 ₽24.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 ₽5,696

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 ₽3,843

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₽10.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ₽8,087

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₽45.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₽31.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 ₽84.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₽58.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,403 ₽202.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,770 ₽148.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₽72.1K

$938 ₽78.8K

-8.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 5, 2026

Last update for Magadan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Magadan pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $64.0 in Magadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $321 per month, with Novosibirsk cheaper across the board.

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 Magadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Magadan wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Novosibirsk. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Magadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Magadan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you'll spend $1,089 per month in Novosibirsk versus $557 in Magadan – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Novosibirsk pay roughly 51% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $557 in Magadan versus $1,089 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Magadan but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Magadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Magadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.