πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Novosibirsk versus $954 in Shakhty.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Novosibirsk versus $1,471 in Shakhty.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,216 in Novosibirsk versus $1,988 in Shakhty.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 6% more expensive than Shakhty, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Shakhty29% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77β½583
$9.33β½700
-16.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.19β½2,865
$37.47β½2,812
1.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16β½387
$5.83β½437
-11.49%
Cappuccino
$2.85β½214
$2.36β½177
20.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40β½105
$1.13β½84.9
23.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½63.4
$0.52β½38.68
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61β½196
$1.38β½103
89.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78β½283
$2.58β½193
46.51%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½82.6
$1.12β½83.9
-1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61β½46.14
$0.71β½53.2
-14.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60β½120
$1.43β½108
11.89%
Eggs
$1.81β½136
$1.80β½135
0.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62β½797
$10.78β½809
-1.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.95β½371
$4.78β½359
3.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.14β½761
$8.71β½654
16.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99β½149
$1.82β½137
9.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.81β½136
6.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.90β½143
1.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46β½260
$2.79β½209
24.01%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½55.2
$0.78β½58.6
-5.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½51.0
$0.67β½50.4
1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08β½81.1
$1.41β½106
-23.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½53.9
$0.71β½52.9
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25β½244
$2.96β½222
9.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27β½695
$8.28β½621
11.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94β½70.5
$0.99β½74.5
-5.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07β½155
$1.94β½146
6.70%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½39.19
$0.54β½40.16
-3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.37β½2,354
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88β½141
$1.89β½142
-0.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27β½20.48
$0.33β½24.54
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92β½294
$6.44β½483
-39.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½57.0
$0.72β½54.1
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.0Kβ½4.1M
$34.3Kβ½2.6M
60.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½2.0M
$35.8Kβ½2.7M
-26.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108β½8,076
$111β½8,311
-2.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.37β½403
$5.97β½448
-10.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.57β½643
$7.67β½575
11.73%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6β½4,549
$35.98β½2,700
68.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.47β½1,837
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92β½444
$4.96β½372
19.35%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357β½26.8K
$323β½24.2K
10.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,688β½351.7K
$6,945β½521.2K
-32.51%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3β½5,051
$70.3β½5,275
-4.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98β½2,925
$45.28β½3,398
-13.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4β½7,235
$114β½8,550
-15.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6β½5,895
$109β½8,154
-27.70%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483β½36.2K
$452β½33.9K
6.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304β½22.8K
$306β½23.0K
-0.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830β½62.3K
$759β½57.0K
9.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643β½48.2K
$502β½37.7K
28.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,638β½197.9K
$2,111β½158.4K
24.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,589β½119.2K
$1,639β½123.0K
-3.10%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Shakhty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$845β½63.4K
$403β½30.2K
109.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
15.33
13.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: April 20, 2026
Last update for Shakhty: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Novosibirsk and $452 in Shakhty. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Novosibirsk pays 110% 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 in Novosibirsk vs $37 in Shakhty for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $198 per month, with Shakhty 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 Shakhty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shakhty cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Shakhty is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Shakhty?
Novosibirsk pays 110% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Shakhty?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Novosibirsk versus $452 in Shakhty. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Shakhty?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Novosibirsk vs Shakhty?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Novosibirsk versus $954 in Shakhty β a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Shakhty?
At $954 in Shakhty versus $1,014 in Novosibirsk, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shakhty but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Shakhty the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Shakhty?
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 Shakhty gentler on the wallet β expenses run 6% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared