πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $1,054 in Perm.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Novosibirsk versus $1,611 in Perm.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,275 in Novosibirsk versus $2,167 in Perm.
πLiving in Novosibirsk costs roughly 5% less than in Perm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Perm22% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58β½549
$9.12β½661
-16.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.54β½2,720
$31.32β½2,269
19.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21β½378
$5.44β½394
-4.23%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½207
$2.29β½166
24.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38β½100
$0.99β½71.7
39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.1
$0.44β½31.57
95.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½185
$1.24β½89.5
105.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80β½275
$2.58β½187
47.29%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½75.8
$0.99β½72.0
6.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62β½44.62
$0.68β½49.17
-8.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½121
$1.47β½106
13.61%
Eggs
$1.85β½134
$1.79β½130
3.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½771
$9.62β½697
10.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18β½375
$4.54β½329
14.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08β½730
$9.72β½705
3.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10β½152
$1.71β½124
22.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88β½136
$1.83β½133
2.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½140
$1.73β½125
11.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50β½254
$2.44β½177
43.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½53.8
$0.99β½71.6
-25.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½48.99
$0.80β½58.0
-15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½81.7
$1.08β½78.5
4.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½52.0
$0.72β½52.1
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22β½234
$3.24β½235
-0.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70β½703
$9.86β½715
-1.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.4
$0.95β½68.8
-9.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½156
$1.94β½141
11.34%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.41
$0.49β½35.75
8.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.64β½2,293
$23.07β½1,672
37.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93β½140
$1.80β½131
7.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.11
$0.15β½10.71
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.78β½274
$4.51β½327
-16.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.75β½54.1
1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
$31.2Kβ½2.3M
78.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
$37.8Kβ½2.7M
-28.91%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104β½7,552
$104β½7,558
-0.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51β½399
$5.94β½430
-7.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.52β½618
$9.51β½689
-10.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9β½4,341
$30.62β½2,219
95.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02β½1,813
$16.91β½1,226
47.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.17β½447
$4.96β½359
24.40%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350β½25.4K
$343β½24.9K
2.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,694β½340.1K
$4,922β½356.7K
-4.64%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½4,983
$100.0β½7,243
-31.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32β½2,922
$39.50β½2,862
2.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8β½6,944
$142β½10.3K
-32.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7β½5,772
$150β½10.9K
-47.03%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477β½34.6K
$541β½39.2K
-11.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298β½21.6K
$364β½26.4K
-18.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839β½60.8K
$821β½59.5K
2.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658β½47.6K
$580β½42.0K
13.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064β½222.0K
$2,661β½192.8K
15.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,935β½140.2K
$1,840β½133.4K
5.16%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Perm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885β½64.1K
$973β½70.5K
-9.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
17.62
-1.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: June 7, 2026
Last update for Perm: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Novosibirsk and $541 in Perm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Perm pays 10% 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: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $31.00 in Perm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $195 per month, with Perm 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 Perm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perm cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Perm?
On paper, Perm earns 10% 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 Perm?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Novosibirsk versus $541 in Perm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $350 in Novosibirsk versus $343 in Perm. 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 Perm?
Shoppers in Perm pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Perm?
At $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $1,054 in Perm, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Perm. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Perm?
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 safer, Novosibirsk or Perm?
Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Perm are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
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 Perm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared