Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Stary Oskol Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Stary Oskol

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Novosibirsk versus $961 in Stary Oskol.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Novosibirsk versus $1,473 in Stary Oskol.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,216 in Novosibirsk versus $1,986 in Stary Oskol.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 6% more expensive than Stary Oskol, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 24% lower, Stary Oskol 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77 β‚½583
$9.55 β‚½716
-18.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.19 β‚½2,865
$37.97 β‚½2,849
0.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.16 β‚½387
$5.65 β‚½424
-8.67%
Cappuccino
$2.85 β‚½214
$2.34 β‚½176
21.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 β‚½105
$1.07 β‚½80.3
30.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 β‚½63.4
$0.48 β‚½35.67
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 β‚½196
$1.36 β‚½102
91.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 β‚½283
$2.60 β‚½195
45.38%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 β‚½82.6
$1.16 β‚½86.8
-5.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 β‚½46.14
$0.66 β‚½49.34
-7.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 β‚½120
$1.37 β‚½103
16.79%
Eggs
$1.81 β‚½136
$1.74 β‚½130
4.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.62 β‚½797
$10.75 β‚½806
-1.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.95 β‚½371
$4.90 β‚½368
1.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.14 β‚½761
$9.09 β‚½682
11.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 β‚½149
$1.75 β‚½131
13.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 β‚½144
$1.84 β‚½138
4.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 β‚½144
$1.90 β‚½143
1.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 β‚½260
$2.76 β‚½207
25.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 β‚½55.2
$0.84 β‚½63.1
-11.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 β‚½51.0
$0.70 β‚½52.8
-2.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 β‚½81.1
$1.40 β‚½105
-22.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 β‚½53.9
$0.66 β‚½49.84
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25 β‚½244
$2.97 β‚½223
9.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.27 β‚½695
$6.81 β‚½511
36.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 β‚½70.5
$1.00 β‚½74.9
-6.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 β‚½155
$1.85 β‚½139
11.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 β‚½39.19
$0.49 β‚½36.87
6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.37 β‚½2,354
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 β‚½141
$1.92 β‚½144
-2.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 β‚½20.48
$0.33 β‚½24.65
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 β‚½294
$6.33 β‚½475
-38.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 β‚½57.0
$0.79 β‚½59.0
-3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.0K β‚½4.1M
$33.8K β‚½2.5M
62.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K β‚½2.0M
$35.9K β‚½2.7M
-26.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 β‚½8,076
$109 β‚½8,167
-1.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.37 β‚½403
$5.88 β‚½441
-8.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.57 β‚½643
$7.78 β‚½584
10.15%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.6 β‚½4,549
$36.07 β‚½2,707
68.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.47 β‚½1,837
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 β‚½444
$5.14 β‚½386
15.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$357 β‚½26.8K
$325 β‚½24.4K
9.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,688 β‚½351.7K
$6,972 β‚½523.2K
-32.76%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3 β‚½5,051
$70.5 β‚½5,294
-4.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 β‚½2,925
$43.58 β‚½3,270
-10.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.4 β‚½7,235
$116 β‚½8,688
-16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 β‚½5,895
$105 β‚½7,875
-25.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 β‚½36.2K
$453 β‚½34.0K
6.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 β‚½22.8K
$311 β‚½23.3K
-2.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$830 β‚½62.3K
$765 β‚½57.4K
8.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 β‚½48.2K
$499 β‚½37.5K
28.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,638 β‚½197.9K
$1,924 β‚½144.4K
37.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,589 β‚½119.2K
$1,387 β‚½104.1K
14.56%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Stary Oskol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$845 β‚½63.4K
-
-
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stary Oskol: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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.

Dining 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 – 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 – 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 – expenses run 6% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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