Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Murmansk Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Murmansk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,117 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,028 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,769 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,625 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,422 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,222 in Murmansk, rent included.

Novosibirsk costs about 9% more than Murmansk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Novosibirsk and Murmansk are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 18% lower, Murmansk 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 ₽1,004

$10.77 ₽910

10.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₽3,529

$35.19 ₽2,973

18.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₽515

$6.05 ₽511

0.66%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽209

$2.72 ₽230

-9.19%

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

$1.13 ₽95.4

$1.10 ₽92.7

2.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.6

$0.60 ₽51.0

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₽102

$1.88 ₽159

-35.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₽308

$3.12 ₽264

16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽101

$1.16 ₽97.6

3.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽60.1

$0.73 ₽61.8

-2.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ₽128

$1.35 ₽114

11.85%

Eggs

$1.67 ₽141

$1.47 ₽124

13.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 ₽990

$10.88 ₽919

7.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₽409

$5.04 ₽426

-3.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ₽956

$12.02 ₽1,015

-5.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽163

$1.57 ₽132

22.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽139

$1.94 ₽164

-14.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₽157

$1.82 ₽154

1.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₽261

$2.42 ₽204

27.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽69.1

$0.81 ₽68.4

1.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽55.6

$0.51 ₽43.06

29.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ₽130

$1.41 ₽119

9.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽60.6

$0.66 ₽55.6

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽255

$2.70 ₽228

11.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 ₽887

$6.68 ₽564

57.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽86.5

$0.98 ₽82.9

4.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽154

$2.24 ₽189

-18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽43.59

$0.54 ₽45.38

-3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.29 ₽2,390

$30.70 ₽2,593

-7.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽177

$2.29 ₽194

-8.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₽40.57

$0.37 ₽31.15

29.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₽499

$6.05 ₽511

-2.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.4

$0.81 ₽68.1

1.23%

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

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$34.7K ₽2.9M

-32.05%

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

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$32.5K ₽2.7M

2.87%

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

$110 ₽9,333

$125 ₽10.6K

-11.56%

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

$7.22 ₽610

$6.57 ₽555

9.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.60 ₽727

$8.84 ₽747

-2.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₽3,270

$30.81 ₽2,604

25.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.34 ₽2,479

$26.09 ₽2,204

12.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽612

$6.29 ₽532

15.10%

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

$292 ₽24.7K

$289 ₽24.4K

1.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,465 ₽546.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 ₽5,799

$66.2 ₽5,593

3.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 ₽3,906

$49.89 ₽4,215

-7.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₽10.6K

$119 ₽10.1K

5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ₽8,069

$105 ₽8,841

-8.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 ₽47.3K

$429 ₽36.2K

30.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₽32.9K

$269 ₽22.8K

44.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₽83.7K

$889 ₽75.1K

11.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₽59.6K

$629 ₽53.2K

12.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,424 ₽204.8K

$2,259 ₽190.9K

7.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,794 ₽151.6K

$1,412 ₽119.3K

27.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

8.71%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $560 in Novosibirsk versus $429 in Murmansk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Novosibirsk versus $35.00 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $203 – making Murmansk 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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,117 in Novosibirsk, $1,028 in Murmansk – roughly 9% apart. Novosibirsk costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,676 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,542 in Murmansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Murmansk, 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 $1,117 in Novosibirsk and $1,028 in Murmansk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Murmansk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Novosibirsk at $1,117. In Murmansk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Novosibirsk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Murmansk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Murmansk. 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.