πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $962 in Novokuznetsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Novosibirsk versus $1,491 in Novokuznetsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,276 in Novosibirsk versus $2,019 in Novokuznetsk.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 6% more expensive than Novokuznetsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Novokuznetsk28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½544
$9.40β½686
-20.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,725
$38.41β½2,803
-2.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½361
$5.57β½406
-11.13%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½210
$2.35β½171
22.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½98.8
$1.12β½82.1
20.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½61.3
$0.48β½35.23
75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½183
$1.37β½99.8
82.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½282
$2.47β½180
56.28%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.3
$1.15β½83.7
-4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.37
$0.71β½51.8
-19.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½123
$1.43β½105
18.18%
Eggs
$1.79β½131
$1.77β½129
1.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½798
$10.73β½783
1.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½373
$4.72β½345
8.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½734
$8.82β½644
14.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½153
$1.75β½127
19.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$1.86β½136
3.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$1.90β½139
1.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½245
$2.76β½201
21.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.79β½57.9
-3.80%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.95
$0.70β½51.4
-4.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½79.3
$1.41β½103
-22.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½53.6
$0.66β½47.86
10.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½234
$3.00β½219
6.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½699
$9.79β½714
-2.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.5
$1.01β½74.0
-9.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½149
$1.93β½141
5.70%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.76
$0.49β½35.61
8.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,310
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½135
$1.86β½135
-0.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.21
$0.35β½25.60
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½285
$6.31β½461
-38.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.2
$0.73β½53.7
1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.0M
$34.3Kβ½2.5M
60.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½1.9M
$35.7Kβ½2.6M
-25.90%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,782
$110β½8,052
-3.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½400
$6.05β½442
-9.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½640
$7.62β½556
15.09%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,432
$34.96β½2,552
73.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,779
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½438
$5.15β½376
16.31%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½25.8K
$319β½23.3K
10.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½343.2K
$7,058β½515.1K
-33.39%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,103
$69.2β½5,050
1.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,913
$44.28β½3,232
-9.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,052
$115β½8,421
-16.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,683
$107β½7,809
-27.23%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.3K
$443β½32.3K
6.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.0K
$304β½22.2K
-0.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½61.3K
$773β½56.4K
8.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.2K
$500β½36.5K
29.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½225.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½145.9K
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Novokuznetsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½65.5K
$424β½31.0K
111.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
13.62
27.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Novokuznetsk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Novosibirsk and $443 in Novokuznetsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Novosibirsk pays 111% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Novokuznetsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $201, with Novokuznetsk cheaper for home cooking.
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 Novokuznetsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk?
Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $962 including rent). Novokuznetsk is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Novosibirsk or Novokuznetsk?
Novosibirsk pays 111% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Novosibirsk versus $443 in Novokuznetsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk?
Childcare runs $354 in Novosibirsk versus $319 in Novokuznetsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Novokuznetsk β a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $37.00 in Novosibirsk. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $962 in Novokuznetsk versus $1,017 in Novosibirsk, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Novokuznetsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Novokuznetsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novosibirsk and Novokuznetsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Novosibirsk or Novokuznetsk?
Expats usually find Novokuznetsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 6% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared