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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,002 per month in Novosibirsk vs $998 in Murmansk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,639 per month in Novosibirsk vs $1,523 in Murmansk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,275 per month in Novosibirsk vs $2,048 in Murmansk, rent included.

Novosibirsk and Murmansk have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Novosibirsk and Murmansk are more affordable than the global median – Novosibirsk 25% lower, Murmansk 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.58 ₽545

$9.47 ₽681

-19.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.54 ₽2,699

$38.66 ₽2,779

-2.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.21 ₽375

$5.44 ₽391

-4.23%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₽205

$1.92 ₽138

48.96%

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

$1.38 ₽99.3

$0.86 ₽62.0

60.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₽61.6

$0.66 ₽47.23

30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 ₽184

$1.41 ₽101

80.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ₽273

$2.53 ₽182

50.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽75.2

$1.22 ₽87.9

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ₽44.27

$0.76 ₽54.3

-18.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 ₽120

$1.48 ₽106

12.84%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽133

$2.23 ₽160

-17.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 ₽765

$10.76 ₽774

-1.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.18 ₽373

$4.74 ₽341

9.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.08 ₽725

$8.67 ₽624

16.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 ₽151

$1.93 ₽139

8.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 ₽135

$1.86 ₽133

1.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.30 ₽166

-16.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 ₽252

$5.22 ₽375

-32.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 ₽53.3

$0.99 ₽71.2

-25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₽48.61

$0.67 ₽47.93

1.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₽81.0

$1.36 ₽97.5

-16.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽51.6

$1.38 ₽99.2

-47.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ₽232

$3.52 ₽253

-8.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 ₽697

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₽61.9

$1.00 ₽72.2

-14.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 ₽155

$1.93 ₽139

11.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽38.11

$0.64 ₽46.14

-17.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.64 ₽2,275

$16.84 ₽1,211

87.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 ₽139

$2.04 ₽147

-5.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽17.97

$2.07 ₽149

-87.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 ₽272

$4.45 ₽320

-15.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽54.8

$0.79 ₽56.8

-3.80%

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

$55.8K ₽4.0M

$34.4K ₽2.5M

62.28%

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

$26.9K ₽1.9M

$35.4K ₽2.5M

-24.02%

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

$104 ₽7,493

$108 ₽7,765

-3.50%

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

$5.51 ₽396

$5.80 ₽417

-5.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.52 ₽613

$11.60 ₽834

-26.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.9 ₽4,308

$35.21 ₽2,532

70.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.02 ₽1,799

Cinema Ticket

$6.17 ₽444

$4.08 ₽294

51.23%

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

$350 ₽25.2K

$327 ₽23.5K

7.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,694 ₽337.5K

$6,870 ₽493.9K

-31.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 ₽4,944

$53.2 ₽3,825

29.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.32 ₽2,899

$45.01 ₽3,236

-10.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 ₽6,890

$115 ₽8,256

-16.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 ₽5,727

$105 ₽7,562

-24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 ₽34.3K

$450 ₽32.3K

6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ₽21.4K

$314 ₽22.6K

-4.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$839 ₽60.4K

$630 ₽45.3K

33.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 ₽47.3K

$451 ₽32.4K

45.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,064 ₽220.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,935 ₽139.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$885 ₽63.6K

$1,137 ₽81.8K

-22.22%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Murmansk: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Novosibirsk versus $450 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 29% higher in Murmansk. 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. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Novosibirsk vs $208 in Murmansk – so Murmansk 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 Murmansk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Novosibirsk and $1,497 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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Novosibirsk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $350 per month in Novosibirsk and $327 in Murmansk. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murmansk, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Novosibirsk at $1,002. 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.