Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Serov Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Serov

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,020 in Novosibirsk versus $978 in Serov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,623 in Novosibirsk versus $1,474 in Serov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Novosibirsk versus $1,970 in Serov.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 4% more expensive than in Serov, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 24% lower, Serov 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.75 ₽602

$9.49 ₽737

-18.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.85 ₽3,017

$38.59 ₽2,996

0.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 ₽387

$5.75 ₽446

-13.22%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ₽224

$2.36 ₽183

22.46%

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

$1.40 ₽109

$1.12 ₽87.1

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽62.0

$0.49 ₽37.94

63.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ₽195

$1.38 ₽107

81.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 ₽290

$2.55 ₽198

46.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽85.2

$1.16 ₽89.9

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₽44.37

$0.67 ₽51.7

-14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 ₽126

$1.44 ₽111

13.19%

Eggs

$1.80 ₽140

$1.79 ₽139

0.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.65 ₽827

$11.03 ₽856

-3.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 ₽391

$4.79 ₽372

5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 ₽787

$9.05 ₽703

12.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₽158

$1.74 ₽135

16.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽144

$1.79 ₽139

3.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 ₽148

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 ₽265

$2.66 ₽206

28.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 ₽62.0

$0.84 ₽65.5

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽49.55

$0.67 ₽52.0

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₽87.7

$1.34 ₽104

-15.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽52.2

$0.68 ₽52.5

-1.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽248

$2.96 ₽230

8.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.60 ₽745

$7.50 ₽582

28.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₽67.9

$0.95 ₽73.6

-7.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₽165

$1.92 ₽149

10.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.49 ₽37.72

$0.53 ₽41.26

-7.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.30 ₽2,430

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.89 ₽146

$1.87 ₽145

1.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₽21.19

$0.33 ₽25.28

-18.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.78 ₽294

$6.20 ₽481

-39.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽58.2

$0.77 ₽59.7

-2.60%

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

$55.5K ₽4.3M

$33.9K ₽2.6M

63.89%

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

$26.2K ₽2.0M

$35.3K ₽2.7M

-25.77%

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

$108 ₽8,358

$108 ₽8,356

0.04%

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

$5.44 ₽423

$5.90 ₽458

-7.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.79 ₽683

$7.96 ₽618

10.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.2 ₽4,596

$35.46 ₽2,753

66.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.96 ₽1,938

Cinema Ticket

$6.11 ₽475

$5.10 ₽396

19.80%

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

$359 ₽27.9K

$326 ₽25.3K

9.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,784 ₽371.4K

$6,923 ₽537.5K

-30.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 ₽5,265

$69.2 ₽5,371

-1.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.37 ₽3,057

$43.56 ₽3,382

-9.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 ₽7,572

$115 ₽8,918

-15.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.2 ₽6,073

$108 ₽8,369

-27.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 ₽36.3K

$439 ₽34.1K

6.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 ₽23.1K

$310 ₽24.1K

-4.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ₽64.4K

$755 ₽58.6K

9.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 ₽49.7K

$511 ₽39.7K

25.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,738 ₽212.6K

$2,188 ₽169.9K

25.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,741 ₽135.2K

$1,438 ₽111.7K

21.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$824 ₽64.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.38

15.33

13.37%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: July 20, 2026

Last update for Serov: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Novosibirsk and $439 in Serov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Novosibirsk vs $39.00 in Serov. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $197, with Serov 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 Serov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Serov is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,530 in Novosibirsk and $1,467 in Serov 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: $468 in Novosibirsk versus $439 in Serov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,020 per month in Novosibirsk versus $978 in Serov – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $978 in Serov versus $1,020 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Serov but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Serov 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.

Expats usually find Serov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.