πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,040 in Ufa.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Novosibirsk versus $1,683 in Ufa.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,276 in Novosibirsk versus $2,326 in Ufa.
πLiving in Novosibirsk costs roughly 2% less than in Ufa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Ufa22% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46β½550
$10.28β½758
-27.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34β½2,755
$49.91β½3,683
-25.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95β½365
$6.39β½471
-22.54%
Cappuccino
$2.87β½212
$2.96β½219
-3.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35β½99.9
$1.12β½82.4
20.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½62.0
$0.56β½41.02
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50β½185
$3.21β½237
-22.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86β½285
$2.80β½207
37.86%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½81.2
$1.09β½80.6
0.92%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57β½41.82
$0.72β½53.4
-20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69β½124
$1.45β½107
16.55%
Eggs
$1.79β½132
$1.74β½128
2.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.93β½807
$10.40β½768
5.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.10β½377
$4.95β½366
3.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.06β½742
$8.41β½621
19.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09β½155
$1.96β½145
6.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93β½142
$2.00β½148
-3.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½143
$2.60β½192
-25.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.35β½247
$3.02β½223
10.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76β½55.9
$0.69β½50.6
10.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½49.48
$0.85β½62.9
-21.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½80.2
$1.71β½126
-36.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73β½54.1
$0.63β½46.44
15.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20β½236
$3.10β½229
3.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.58β½707
$13.96β½1,030
-31.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½67.2
$1.00β½74.0
-9.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04β½151
$1.75β½129
16.57%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½39.18
$0.50β½36.73
6.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.65β½2,336
$33.21β½2,450
-4.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85β½136
$1.87β½138
-1.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.41
$1.12β½82.5
-77.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.90β½288
$7.02β½518
-44.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74β½54.8
$0.72β½52.9
2.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.1Kβ½4.1M
$42.0Kβ½3.1M
31.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½2.0M
$48.8Kβ½3.6M
-45.83%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107β½7,867
$123β½9,044
-13.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½405
$6.35β½469
-13.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.77β½647
$6.86β½506
27.84%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7β½4,480
$25.70β½1,897
136.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37β½1,798
$13.73β½1,013
77.49%
Cinema Ticket
$5.99β½442
$5.38β½397
11.34%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½26.1K
$380β½28.0K
-6.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,701β½346.9K
$5,033β½371.4K
-6.59%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9β½5,158
$77.4β½5,714
-9.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.91β½2,945
$40.07β½2,957
-0.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6β½7,129
$131β½9,630
-25.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9β½5,745
$114β½8,376
-31.41%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470β½34.7K
$444β½32.7K
5.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302β½22.3K
$306β½22.5K
-1.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840β½62.0K
$836β½61.7K
0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647β½47.7K
$541β½39.9K
19.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,092β½228.2K
$2,713β½200.2K
13.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,999β½147.5K
$2,168β½160.0K
-7.79%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Ufa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897β½66.2K
$913β½67.4K
-1.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
18.48
-5.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ufa: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Novosibirsk and $444 in Ufa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Ufa pays 2% 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 $50.0 in Ufa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $214 per month, with Novosibirsk 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 Ufa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ufa cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Ufa?
On paper, Ufa earns 2% 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 Ufa?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Novosibirsk versus $444 in Ufa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $354 in Novosibirsk versus $380 in Ufa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Ufa?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Ufa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Ufa?
At $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $1,040 in Ufa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Ufa. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Ufa?
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 safer, Novosibirsk or Ufa?
Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Ufa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% less than in Ufa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Novosibirsk vs other spots: cost of living compared