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: $1,089 in Novosibirsk versus $1,007 in Serov.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,710 in Novosibirsk versus $1,540 in Serov.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,332 in Novosibirsk versus $2,074 in Serov.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 8% more expensive than in Serov, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 21% lower, Serov 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.86 ₽1,021

$10.26 ₽884

15.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.53 ₽3,576

$31.43 ₽2,707

32.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.86 ₽504

$6.41 ₽552

-8.58%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽213

$2.80 ₽241

-11.79%

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

$1.10 ₽95.1

$0.99 ₽84.8

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₽49.10

$0.62 ₽53.8

-8.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ₽98.0

$1.97 ₽169

-42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 ₽292

$2.51 ₽216

35.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₽98.2

$1.15 ₽99.4

-0.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ₽54.3

$0.64 ₽55.2

-1.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 ₽123

$1.18 ₽101

21.19%

Eggs

$1.64 ₽142

$1.77 ₽152

-7.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 ₽987

$11.11 ₽957

3.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 ₽431

$5.26 ₽453

-4.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 ₽968

$11.29 ₽972

-0.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.86 ₽160

$1.69 ₽146

10.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₽135

$1.93 ₽166

-18.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ₽162

$1.99 ₽171

-5.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₽272

$2.45 ₽211

28.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 ₽68.2

$0.71 ₽61.3

11.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ₽52.3

$0.60 ₽51.7

1.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 ₽130

$1.42 ₽122

6.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₽61.4

$0.79 ₽67.7

-10.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 ₽266

$2.80 ₽241

10.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.54 ₽908

$8.68 ₽747

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽86.2

$0.96 ₽82.5

4.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₽149

$1.79 ₽154

-3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽45.79

$0.48 ₽41.20

10.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.33 ₽2,439

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽180

$2.11 ₽181

-0.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 ₽39.56

$0.30 ₽26.05

53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 ₽491

$5.18 ₽446

10.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽65.6

$0.73 ₽63.0

4.11%

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

$23.4K ₽2.0M

$36.1K ₽3.1M

-35.17%

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

$32.6K ₽2.8M

$27.4K ₽2.4M

18.84%

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

$109 ₽9,428

$113 ₽9,713

-2.93%

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

$7.02 ₽605

$6.54 ₽563

7.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.38 ₽721

$8.30 ₽715

0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.86 ₽3,260

$31.97 ₽2,753

18.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.81 ₽2,395

$23.70 ₽2,041

17.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₽596

$5.06 ₽436

36.76%

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

$289 ₽24.9K

$275 ₽23.7K

5.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,656 ₽487.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 ₽5,836

$59.5 ₽5,126

13.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.72 ₽3,937

$51.6 ₽4,440

-11.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 ₽11.0K

$122 ₽10.5K

3.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 ₽8,286

$96.5 ₽8,306

-0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ₽47.0K

$404 ₽34.8K

35.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 ₽32.3K

$326 ₽28.0K

15.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 ₽86.2K

$698 ₽60.1K

43.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 ₽60.4K

$480 ₽41.4K

46.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,403 ₽206.9K

$2,303 ₽198.3K

4.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,770 ₽152.4K

$1,506 ₽129.7K

17.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$857 ₽73.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

8.71%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 5, 2026

Last update for Serov: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $546 in Novosibirsk and $404 in Serov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $31.00 in Serov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $208 per month, with Serov 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 Serov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Serov is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,634 in Novosibirsk and $1,510 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: $546 in Novosibirsk versus $404 in Serov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,089 per month in Novosibirsk versus $1,007 in Serov – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,007 in Serov versus $1,089 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 8% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.