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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $994 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,019 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,617 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,524 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,241 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,030 in Murmansk, rent included.

Novosibirsk is about 2% cheaper than Murmansk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Novosibirsk and Murmansk are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 25% lower, Murmansk 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 ₽615

$9.48 ₽756

-18.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.77 ₽3,013

$38.60 ₽3,079

-2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ₽408

$5.42 ₽433

-5.72%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₽227

$1.91 ₽152

48.69%

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

$1.34 ₽107

$0.93 ₽74.2

44.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽64.8

$0.70 ₽55.9

15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ₽199

$1.43 ₽114

74.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 ₽305

$2.47 ₽197

55.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽83.4

$1.24 ₽98.8

-15.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₽47.96

$0.78 ₽62.3

-23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₽128

$1.51 ₽120

5.96%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽142

$2.32 ₽185

-22.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 ₽879

$10.66 ₽851

3.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ₽408

$4.79 ₽382

6.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 ₽819

$8.95 ₽714

14.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 ₽160

$1.93 ₽154

3.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₽153

$1.94 ₽155

-1.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₽153

$2.32 ₽185

-17.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.38 ₽270

$5.00 ₽399

-32.40%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₽63.0

$1.05 ₽83.6

-24.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽52.9

$0.72 ₽57.7

-8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₽86.6

$1.36 ₽109

-19.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.9

$1.43 ₽114

-52.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ₽245

$3.42 ₽272

-10.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₽759

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₽73.6

$1.01 ₽80.4

-8.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₽165

$1.92 ₽153

7.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽42.00

$0.61 ₽48.90

-13.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.63 ₽2,523

$17.33 ₽1,383

82.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ₽156

$2.00 ₽160

-2.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₽21.64

$2.17 ₽173

-87.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 ₽297

$4.62 ₽369

-19.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽59.7

$0.72 ₽57.7

4.17%

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

$55.6K ₽4.4M

$34.8K ₽2.8M

59.83%

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

$26.2K ₽2.1M

$36.1K ₽2.9M

-27.49%

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

$108 ₽8,606

$109 ₽8,721

-1.33%

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

$5.36 ₽428

$5.64 ₽450

-4.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.62 ₽688

$11.49 ₽917

-24.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 ₽4,741

$35.97 ₽2,870

65.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.96 ₽1,991

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 ₽486

$4.18 ₽334

45.69%

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

$347 ₽27.7K

$328 ₽26.1K

5.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,719 ₽376.4K

$6,987 ₽557.4K

-32.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.4 ₽5,540

$54.9 ₽4,380

26.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 ₽3,122

$43.98 ₽3,509

-11.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 ₽7,641

$112 ₽8,958

-14.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 ₽6,262

$107 ₽8,567

-26.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₽37.9K

$438 ₽35.0K

8.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₽24.5K

$322 ₽25.7K

-4.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 ₽66.2K

$628 ₽50.1K

32.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 ₽50.8K

$448 ₽35.8K

42.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,715 ₽216.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,744 ₽139.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$833 ₽66.4K

$1,092 ₽87.1K

-23.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.38

17.17

1.22%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: July 27, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Novosibirsk versus $438 in Murmansk. 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 31% higher in Murmansk, 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 $38.00 in Novosibirsk versus $39.00 in Murmansk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $210 – making Novosibirsk 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: $994 in Novosibirsk, $1,019 in Murmansk – roughly 3% apart. Murmansk costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,491 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,529 in Murmansk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novosibirsk, 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 $994 in Novosibirsk and $1,019 in Murmansk. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 83% less in Novosibirsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novosibirsk, where all-in costs run around $994, than in Murmansk at $1,019. In Novosibirsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Murmansk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novosibirsk – 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 Novosibirsk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Murmansk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.