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: $1,117 in Novosibirsk versus $800 in Obninsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Novosibirsk versus $1,228 in Obninsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,422 in Novosibirsk versus $1,655 in Obninsk.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 40% more expensive than in Obninsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 18% lower, Obninsk 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 ₽1,000

$10.79 ₽908

10.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₽3,514

$31.94 ₽2,687

30.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₽513

$7.24 ₽609

-15.88%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽208

$2.90 ₽244

-14.83%

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

$1.13 ₽95.0

$1.20 ₽101

-5.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.4

$0.45 ₽38.14

35.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₽101

$3.65 ₽307

-66.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₽306

$2.38 ₽201

52.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽101

$1.09 ₽91.5

10.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽59.9

$0.59 ₽49.52

20.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ₽127

$1.67 ₽141

-9.58%

Eggs

$1.67 ₽140

$1.26 ₽106

32.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 ₽986

$7.31 ₽615

60.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₽407

$4.60 ₽387

5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ₽952

$8.41 ₽707

34.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽162

$1.52 ₽128

26.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽138

$1.64 ₽138

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₽156

$1.75 ₽147

5.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₽260

$2.37 ₽200

30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽68.9

$0.55 ₽46.37

49.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽55.3

$0.54 ₽45.47

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ₽130

$0.94 ₽79.0

63.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽60.4

$0.58 ₽49.07

24.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽254

$3.21 ₽270

-5.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 ₽883

$8.41 ₽707

24.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽86.1

$1.20 ₽101

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽153

$1.78 ₽150

2.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽43.41

$0.43 ₽36.05

20.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.29 ₽2,380

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽176

$3.59 ₽302

-41.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₽40.40

$0.69 ₽58.3

-30.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₽497

$10.80 ₽909

-45.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.1

$0.80 ₽67.2

2.50%

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

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$37.7K ₽3.2M

-37.39%

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

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$38.3K ₽3.2M

-12.69%

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

$110 ₽9,294

$183 ₽15.4K

-39.78%

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

$7.22 ₽608

$8.49 ₽714

-14.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.60 ₽724

$9.68 ₽814

-11.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₽3,256

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.34 ₽2,469

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽610

$8.31 ₽699

-12.88%

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

$292 ₽24.6K

$790 ₽66.5K

-63.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K ₽2.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 ₽5,774

$105 ₽8,820

-34.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 ₽3,889

$60.5 ₽5,086

-23.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₽10.5K

$146 ₽12.3K

-14.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ₽8,035

$176 ₽14.8K

-45.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 ₽47.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₽32.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₽83.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₽59.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,424 ₽204.0K

$3,153 ₽265.3K

-23.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,794 ₽150.9K

$2,461 ₽207.1K

-27.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

19.52

16.96%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Last update for Obninsk: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $32.00 in Obninsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $175 per month, with Obninsk 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

Obninsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,676 in Novosibirsk and $1,201 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,117 per month in Novosibirsk versus $800 in Obninsk – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $800 in Obninsk versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Obninsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Obninsk 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 Obninsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.