πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,071 in Omsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Novosibirsk versus $1,732 in Omsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,276 in Novosibirsk versus $2,394 in Omsk.
πLiving in Novosibirsk costs roughly 5% less than in Omsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Omsk20% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½544
$10.22β½746
-27.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,725
$35.25β½2,573
5.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½361
$8.67β½633
-42.91%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½210
$2.56β½187
12.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½98.8
$0.96β½70.3
40.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½61.3
$0.58β½42.00
44.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½183
$1.11β½81.1
125.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½282
$1.87β½136
106.42%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½80.3
$1.13β½82.3
-2.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.37
$0.58β½42.61
-1.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½123
$1.32β½96.0
28.03%
Eggs
$1.79β½131
$1.68β½122
6.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½798
$10.69β½780
2.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½373
$4.37β½319
16.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½734
$12.12β½885
-17.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½153
$1.60β½117
30.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$1.91β½140
1.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½141
$1.71β½125
12.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½245
$2.32β½169
44.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.94β½68.6
-19.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½48.95
$0.71β½52.1
-5.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½79.3
$1.02β½74.8
6.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½53.6
$0.75β½54.6
-2.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½234
$3.02β½221
5.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½699
$7.60β½555
26.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½66.5
$1.08β½79.1
-15.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½149
$1.95β½143
4.62%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.76
$0.53β½38.84
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,310
$31.82β½2,322
-0.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½135
$3.02β½220
-38.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.21
$0.24β½17.56
4.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½285
$6.08β½444
-35.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.2
$0.74β½53.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.0M
$25.3Kβ½1.8M
118.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½1.9M
$23.6Kβ½1.7M
11.86%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,782
$159β½11.6K
-32.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½400
$4.87β½356
12.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½640
$10.78β½787
-18.65%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,432
$17.75β½1,295
242.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,779
$15.05β½1,098
61.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½438
$4.55β½332
31.65%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½25.8K
$176β½12.9K
101.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½343.2K
$8,416β½614.3K
-44.13%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,103
$96.6β½7,048
-27.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,913
$46.59β½3,401
-14.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,052
$150β½10.9K
-35.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,683
$162β½11.8K
-51.90%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.3K
$404β½29.5K
16.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.0K
$266β½19.4K
13.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½61.3K
$928β½67.7K
-9.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.2K
$644β½47.0K
0.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½225.7K
$2,588β½188.9K
19.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½145.9K
$1,978β½144.4K
1.06%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Omsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½65.5K
$1,095β½79.9K
-18.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
22.38
-22.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Omsk: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Novosibirsk and $404 in Omsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Omsk pays 22% 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 $35.00 in Omsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $199 per month, with Omsk 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 Omsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Omsk cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Omsk?
On paper, Omsk earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Omsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Novosibirsk versus $404 in Omsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $354 in Novosibirsk versus $176 in Omsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Omsk?
Shoppers in Omsk pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Omsk?
At $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,071 in Omsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Omsk. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Omsk?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 5% less than in Omsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared