😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Novosibirsk versus $955 in Surgut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Novosibirsk versus $1,493 in Surgut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,294 in Novosibirsk versus $2,030 in Surgut.
😐Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 6% more expensive than Surgut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Surgut29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47₽561
$9.34₽701
-20.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.41₽2,810
$38.52₽2,893
-2.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00₽376
$5.72₽430
-12.59%
Cappuccino
$2.77₽208
$2.39₽179
15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34₽100
$1.11₽83.4
20.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87₽65.2
$0.48₽35.74
81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55₽192
$1.41₽106
80.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72₽279
$2.56₽192
45.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽78.9
$1.15₽86.6
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56₽42.36
$0.70₽52.8
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61₽121
$1.44₽108
11.81%
Eggs
$1.88₽141
$1.72₽129
9.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69₽803
$10.87₽817
-1.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94₽371
$4.88₽366
1.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.22₽768
$9.07₽681
12.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07₽156
$1.80₽135
15.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87₽141
$1.83₽137
2.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98₽149
$1.99₽150
-0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34₽251
$2.80₽210
19.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80₽60.1
$0.81₽60.6
-1.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₽50.0
$0.72₽54.3
-6.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09₽82.0
$1.35₽101
-19.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽53.9
$0.71₽53.0
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14₽236
$2.96₽222
6.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.55₽717
$6.76₽508
41.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87₽65.0
$1.02₽76.4
-14.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16₽162
$1.88₽141
14.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52₽39.35
$0.49₽36.99
6.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.43₽2,361
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88₽141
$1.89₽142
-0.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₽18.77
$0.33₽24.78
-24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.86₽290
$6.18₽464
-37.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77₽57.5
$0.73₽54.6
5.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8K₽4.2M
$34.5K₽2.6M
61.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K₽2.0M
$35.9K₽2.7M
-24.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106₽7,931
$108₽8,122
-2.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48₽411
$5.81₽437
-5.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.71₽654
$7.83₽588
11.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.7₽4,485
$35.98₽2,703
65.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.25₽1,897
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.91₽444
$5.00₽376
18.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354₽26.6K
$321₽24.1K
10.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,695₽352.6K
$7,000₽525.8K
-32.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8₽5,163
$69.3₽5,207
-0.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38₽2,958
$44.96₽3,377
-12.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1₽7,140
$114₽8,575
-16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7₽6,059
$107₽8,053
-24.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471₽35.4K
$449₽33.7K
5.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₽23.2K
$306₽23.0K
0.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818₽61.5K
$758₽56.9K
7.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639₽48.0K
$516₽38.8K
23.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,631₽197.6K
$1,612₽121.1K
63.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,582₽118.8K
$1,328₽99.8K
19.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Surgut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$856₽64.3K
$902₽67.8K
-5.19%
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 27, 2026
Last update for Surgut: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Novosibirsk and $449 in Surgut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surgut pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $39.00 in Surgut. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $197, 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, 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 Surgut?
On paper, Surgut earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Surgut?
Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Novosibirsk versus $449 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 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 Surgut?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Novosibirsk versus $955 in Surgut – a 6% 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 $955 in Surgut versus $1,013 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 – 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 – 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