πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $998 in Novosibirsk versus $985 in Surgut.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,645 in Novosibirsk versus $1,506 in Surgut.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,292 in Novosibirsk versus $2,028 in Surgut.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 1% more expensive than Surgut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Surgut26% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67β½556
$9.47β½686
-19.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.48β½2,716
$37.65β½2,728
-0.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.04β½365
$5.88β½426
-14.29%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½207
$2.33β½169
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39β½101
$1.07β½77.8
29.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79β½57.5
$0.51β½37.03
54.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57β½186
$1.40β½102
83.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85β½279
$2.52β½183
52.78%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08β½78.5
$1.16β½83.9
-6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60β½43.62
$0.65β½47.08
-7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½121
$1.36β½98.7
22.79%
Eggs
$1.86β½135
$1.78β½129
4.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.72β½777
$10.70β½775
0.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.17β½375
$4.72β½342
9.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.28β½745
$8.98β½651
14.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08β½151
$1.78β½129
16.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85β½134
$1.88β½136
-1.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90β½137
$1.96β½142
-3.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48β½252
$2.66β½193
30.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75β½54.3
$0.79β½57.1
-5.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63β½45.30
$0.70β½51.1
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½82.0
$1.41β½102
-19.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67β½48.68
$0.72β½51.9
-6.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19β½231
$2.91β½211
9.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.46β½686
$7.31β½529
29.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93β½67.7
$1.01β½72.9
-7.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13β½154
$1.87β½135
13.90%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49β½35.42
$0.49β½35.58
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.38β½2,273
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.86β½135
$1.94β½141
-4.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.09
$0.32β½23.41
-21.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.80β½275
$6.47β½469
-41.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72β½52.2
$0.73β½52.8
-1.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$56.5Kβ½4.1M
$34.4Kβ½2.5M
64.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0Kβ½2.0M
$34.9Kβ½2.5M
-22.84%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106β½7,704
$109β½7,910
-2.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.42β½393
$5.87β½426
-7.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.91β½646
$7.64β½553
16.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3β½4,372
$35.52β½2,574
69.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.58β½1,781
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.86β½424
$4.98β½361
17.67%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$351β½25.5K
$325β½23.5K
8.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,849β½351.3K
$6,920β½501.4K
-29.93%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2β½5,012
$71.0β½5,146
-2.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.60β½2,869
$44.75β½3,243
-11.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0β½7,030
$112β½8,119
-13.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2β½5,740
$105β½7,624
-24.71%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471β½34.1K
$452β½32.7K
4.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½21.9K
$309β½22.4K
-2.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$820β½59.4K
$764β½55.4K
7.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640β½46.4K
$508β½36.8K
26.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,982β½216.1K
$2,510β½181.8K
18.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,975β½143.1K
$1,645β½119.2K
20.10%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$894β½64.8K
$771β½55.9K
15.88%
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Surgut: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Novosibirsk and $452 in Surgut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Novosibirsk pays 16% 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: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Surgut. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $196, with Surgut 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 Surgut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surgut cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Surgut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Surgut?
Novosibirsk pays 16% 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 Surgut?
Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Novosibirsk versus $452 in Surgut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Surgut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% 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 Surgut?
All in, you'll spend $998 per month in Novosibirsk versus $985 in Surgut β a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Surgut?
At $985 in Surgut versus $998 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Surgut but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Surgut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Surgut?
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 Surgut gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1% 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