πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Novosibirsk versus $961 in Stary Oskol.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Novosibirsk versus $1,473 in Stary Oskol.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,216 in Novosibirsk versus $1,986 in Stary Oskol.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 6% more expensive than Stary Oskol, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Stary Oskol28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77β½583
$9.55β½716
-18.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.19β½2,865
$37.97β½2,849
0.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16β½387
$5.65β½424
-8.67%
Cappuccino
$2.85β½214
$2.34β½176
21.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40β½105
$1.07β½80.3
30.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½63.4
$0.48β½35.67
75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61β½196
$1.36β½102
91.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78β½283
$2.60β½195
45.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½82.6
$1.16β½86.8
-5.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61β½46.14
$0.66β½49.34
-7.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60β½120
$1.37β½103
16.79%
Eggs
$1.81β½136
$1.74β½130
4.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62β½797
$10.75β½806
-1.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.95β½371
$4.90β½368
1.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.14β½761
$9.09β½682
11.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99β½149
$1.75β½131
13.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.84β½138
4.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.90β½143
1.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46β½260
$2.76β½207
25.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½55.2
$0.84β½63.1
-11.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½51.0
$0.70β½52.8
-2.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08β½81.1
$1.40β½105
-22.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½53.9
$0.66β½49.84
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25β½244
$2.97β½223
9.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27β½695
$6.81β½511
36.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94β½70.5
$1.00β½74.9
-6.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07β½155
$1.85β½139
11.89%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½39.19
$0.49β½36.87
6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.37β½2,354
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88β½141
$1.92β½144
-2.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27β½20.48
$0.33β½24.65
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92β½294
$6.33β½475
-38.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½57.0
$0.79β½59.0
-3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.0Kβ½4.1M
$33.8Kβ½2.5M
62.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½2.0M
$35.9Kβ½2.7M
-26.58%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108β½8,076
$109β½8,167
-1.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.37β½403
$5.88β½441
-8.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.57β½643
$7.78β½584
10.15%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6β½4,549
$36.07β½2,707
68.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.47β½1,837
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92β½444
$5.14β½386
15.18%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357β½26.8K
$325β½24.4K
9.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,688β½351.7K
$6,972β½523.2K
-32.76%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3β½5,051
$70.5β½5,294
-4.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98β½2,925
$43.58β½3,270
-10.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4β½7,235
$116β½8,688
-16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6β½5,895
$105β½7,875
-25.14%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483β½36.2K
$453β½34.0K
6.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304β½22.8K
$311β½23.3K
-2.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830β½62.3K
$765β½57.4K
8.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643β½48.2K
$499β½37.5K
28.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,638β½197.9K
$1,924β½144.4K
37.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,589β½119.2K
$1,387β½104.1K
14.56%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$845β½63.4K
-
-
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 Stary Oskol: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Novosibirsk and $453 in Stary Oskol. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $38 in Novosibirsk vs $38 in Stary Oskol. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $196, with Stary Oskol 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 Stary Oskol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stary Oskol cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Stary Oskol 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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,521 in Novosibirsk and $1,441 in Stary Oskol 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.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Stary Oskol?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Novosibirsk versus $453 in Stary Oskol. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Stary Oskol?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 Stary Oskol?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Novosibirsk versus $961 in Stary Oskol β a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Stary Oskol?
At $961 in Stary Oskol versus $1,014 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Stary Oskol but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Stary Oskol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Stary Oskol?
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 Stary Oskol 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