Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Shchelkovo Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Shchelkovo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Novosibirsk versus $896 in Shchelkovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Novosibirsk versus $1,407 in Shchelkovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,422 in Novosibirsk versus $1,918 in Shchelkovo.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 25% more expensive than in Shchelkovo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 18% lower, Shchelkovo 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 ₽1,000

$5.79 ₽487

105.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₽3,514

$29.30 ₽2,465

42.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₽513

$7.77 ₽653

-21.62%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽208

$2.77 ₽233

-10.83%

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

$1.13 ₽95.0

$0.89 ₽74.9

26.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.4

$0.57 ₽48.24

7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₽101

$0.90 ₽75.5

34.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₽306

$1.43 ₽121

154.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽101

$0.95 ₽79.6

26.32%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽59.9

$0.79 ₽66.1

-10.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ₽127

$1.15 ₽96.4

31.30%

Eggs

$1.67 ₽140

$1.53 ₽129

9.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 ₽986

$8.88 ₽747

31.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₽407

$4.83 ₽406

0.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ₽952

$11.57 ₽974

-2.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽162

$1.55 ₽130

24.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽138

$1.43 ₽121

15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₽156

$1.50 ₽126

23.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₽260

$2.52 ₽212

22.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽68.9

$0.69 ₽58.3

18.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽55.3

$0.39 ₽33.13

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ₽130

$1.37 ₽115

12.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽60.4

$0.43 ₽35.80

67.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽254

$2.10 ₽177

43.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 ₽883

$6.89 ₽580

52.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽86.1

$0.71 ₽59.5

43.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽153

$1.48 ₽125

22.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽43.41

$0.49 ₽41.04

6.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.29 ₽2,380

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽176

$3.40 ₽286

-38.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₽40.40

$0.16 ₽13.61

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₽497

$3.42 ₽288

72.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.1

$0.76 ₽63.7

7.89%

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

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$34.4K ₽2.9M

-31.28%

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

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$46.6K ₽3.9M

-28.32%

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

$110 ₽9,294

$101 ₽8,527

8.99%

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

$7.22 ₽608

$3.42 ₽288

111.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.60 ₽724

$4.62 ₽389

86.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₽3,256

$34.45 ₽2,899

12.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.34 ₽2,469

$22.93 ₽1,929

27.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽610

$5.94 ₽500

21.89%

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

$292 ₽24.6K

$176 ₽14.8K

66.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,491 ₽293.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 ₽5,774

$41.33 ₽3,478

66.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 ₽3,889

$23.17 ₽1,949

99.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₽10.5K

$138 ₽11.6K

-9.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ₽8,035

$118 ₽9,934

-19.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 ₽47.1K

$446 ₽37.5K

25.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₽32.8K

$304 ₽25.6K

28.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₽83.4K

$786 ₽66.1K

26.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₽59.3K

$529 ₽44.5K

33.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,424 ₽204.0K

$2,232 ₽187.8K

8.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,794 ₽150.9K

$1,434 ₽120.6K

25.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

20.75

10.02%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Last update for Shchelkovo: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $560 in Novosibirsk and $446 in Shchelkovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $29.00 in Shchelkovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $182 per month, with Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Shchelkovo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,676 in Novosibirsk and $1,344 in Shchelkovo 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: $560 in Novosibirsk versus $446 in Shchelkovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,117 per month in Novosibirsk versus $896 in Shchelkovo – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $896 in Shchelkovo versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Shchelkovo but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Shchelkovo 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 Shchelkovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.