Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Obninsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Obninsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $994 in Novosibirsk versus $1,160 in Obninsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,617 in Novosibirsk versus $1,794 in Obninsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,241 in Novosibirsk versus $2,427 in Obninsk.

Living in Novosibirsk costs roughly 14% less than in Obninsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 25% lower, Obninsk 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 ₽613

$12.87 ₽1,024

-40.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.77 ₽3,006

$57.0 ₽4,540

-33.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 ₽407

$6.28 ₽500

-18.63%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₽226

$3.27 ₽260

-13.15%

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

$1.34 ₽107

$1.39 ₽110

-3.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽64.7

$0.67 ₽53.7

20.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ₽198

$1.40 ₽112

77.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 ₽305

$4.49 ₽358

-14.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽83.2

$1.16 ₽92.1

-9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₽47.85

$0.81 ₽64.5

-25.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₽128

$1.76 ₽140

-9.09%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽142

$1.94 ₽154

-7.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.02 ₽877

$13.34 ₽1,062

-17.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 ₽407

$6.00 ₽477

-14.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 ₽817

$12.16 ₽968

-15.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 ₽159

$1.86 ₽148

7.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 ₽153

$1.73 ₽138

10.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 ₽153

$2.37 ₽188

-18.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.38 ₽269

$4.00 ₽318

-15.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₽62.9

$1.02 ₽81.3

-22.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽52.7

$0.84 ₽67.2

-21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₽86.4

$1.69 ₽134

-35.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₽53.8

$0.80 ₽63.9

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ₽244

$3.11 ₽248

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.52 ₽757

$8.91 ₽709

6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₽73.4

$1.13 ₽90.1

-18.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₽165

$2.45 ₽195

-15.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽41.91

$0.50 ₽39.55

6.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.63 ₽2,517

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 ₽155

$2.51 ₽200

-22.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₽21.59

$0.48 ₽38.03

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 ₽296

$7.90 ₽629

-52.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽59.6

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

$55.6K ₽4.4M

$38.2K ₽3.0M

45.37%

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

$26.2K ₽2.1M

$37.3K ₽3.0M

-29.75%

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

$108 ₽8,586

$150 ₽12.0K

-28.29%

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

$5.36 ₽427

$8.12 ₽647

-33.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.62 ₽686

$8.15 ₽648

5.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.4 ₽4,730

$35.78 ₽2,848

66.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.96 ₽1,986

$12.88 ₽1,025

93.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 ₽485

$6.22 ₽495

-2.09%

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

$347 ₽27.6K

$322 ₽25.6K

7.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,719 ₽375.6K

$7,114 ₽566.2K

-33.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.4 ₽5,527

$87.5 ₽6,966

-20.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.14 ₽3,115

$53.1 ₽4,228

-26.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 ₽7,623

$133 ₽10.6K

-27.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 ₽6,248

$162 ₽12.9K

-51.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₽37.8K

$447 ₽35.6K

6.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₽24.4K

$302 ₽24.0K

1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$830 ₽66.1K

$749 ₽59.6K

10.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 ₽50.7K

$498 ₽39.7K

27.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,715 ₽216.1K

$3,451 ₽274.7K

-21.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,744 ₽138.8K

$2,741 ₽218.2K

-36.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$833 ₽66.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.38

117.25%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: July 27, 2026

Last update for Obninsk: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Novosibirsk and $447 in Obninsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $57.0 in Obninsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $240 per month, with Novosibirsk cheaper across the board.

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 Obninsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,491 in Novosibirsk and $1,741 in Obninsk to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Novosibirsk versus $447 in Obninsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Obninsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $994 per month in Novosibirsk versus $1,160 in Obninsk – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $994 in Novosibirsk versus $1,160 in Obninsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Obninsk. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Obninsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Obninsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.