Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Makhachkala Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Makhachkala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Novosibirsk vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,647 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,276 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Novosibirsk costs about 4% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Novosibirsk and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 24% lower, Makhachkala 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₽548

$15.31 ₽1,125

-51.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.34 ₽2,743

$38.77 ₽2,848

-3.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ₽363

$5.20 ₽382

-4.81%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₽211

$3.12 ₽229

-8.01%

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

$1.35 ₽99.4

$0.84 ₽62.0

60.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₽61.7

$0.35 ₽25.81

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 ₽184

$1.36 ₽99.6

83.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 ₽284

$2.50 ₽184

54.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽80.8

$1.51 ₽111

-27.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₽41.63

$0.60 ₽44.23

-5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽124

$1.38 ₽101

22.46%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽132

$1.37 ₽101

30.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₽803

$2.97 ₽218

268.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₽375

$4.80 ₽353

6.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ₽739

$4.92 ₽361

104.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 ₽154

$1.74 ₽128

20.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₽142

$1.75 ₽129

10.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽142

$2.72 ₽200

-29.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ₽246

$1.89 ₽139

77.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ₽55.7

$0.88 ₽64.5

-13.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽49.26

$0.49 ₽35.84

36.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₽79.9

$2.36 ₽173

-53.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.9

$0.59 ₽43.05

23.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽235

$3.19 ₽234

0.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 ₽704

$4.22 ₽310

127.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽66.9

$1.04 ₽76.4

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₽150

$1.85 ₽136

10.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽39.01

$0.43 ₽31.44

23.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.65 ₽2,325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽136

$2.22 ₽163

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.33

$0.21 ₽15.53

19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 ₽286

$6.18 ₽454

-36.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽54.5

$0.70 ₽51.3

5.71%

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

$55.1K ₽4.1M

$35.3K ₽2.6M

56.30%

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

$26.4K ₽1.9M

$30.3K ₽2.2M

-12.64%

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

$107 ₽7,832

$54.9 ₽4,033

94.21%

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

$5.48 ₽403

$6.13 ₽450

-10.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.77 ₽644

$9.84 ₽723

-10.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ₽4,460

$46.58 ₽3,421

30.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 ₽1,790

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 ₽440

$5.02 ₽369

19.32%

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

$354 ₽26.0K

$166 ₽12.2K

113.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,701 ₽345.4K

$7,077 ₽519.9K

-33.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.9 ₽5,135

$106 ₽7,777

-33.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 ₽2,932

$44.24 ₽3,250

-9.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 ₽7,098

$105 ₽7,704

-7.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₽5,720

$145 ₽10.7K

-46.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₽34.5K

$501 ₽36.8K

-6.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽22.2K

$305 ₽22.4K

-0.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 ₽61.7K

$698 ₽51.2K

20.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 ₽47.5K

$399 ₽29.3K

62.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,092 ₽227.1K

$1,789 ₽131.4K

72.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,999 ₽146.8K

$1,289 ₽94.7K

55.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₽65.9K

$860 ₽63.1K

4.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.38

11.33

53.40%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Novosibirsk versus $501 in Makhachkala. 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 4% 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 $37.00 in Novosibirsk versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Novosibirsk vs $157 in Makhachkala – so Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Novosibirsk is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,526 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,468 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Novosibirsk and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Novosibirsk and $166 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Novosibirsk at $1,017. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – 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 Makhachkala. 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.