πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Novosibirsk versus $963 in Ukhta.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Novosibirsk versus $1,504 in Ukhta.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,294 in Novosibirsk versus $2,046 in Ukhta.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 5% more expensive than Ukhta, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Ukhta28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.47β½561
$9.70β½729
-22.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.41β½2,810
$37.55β½2,820
-0.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00β½376
$5.62β½422
-11.03%
Cappuccino
$2.77β½208
$2.28β½172
21.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34β½100
$1.11β½83.6
20.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87β½65.2
$0.48β½36.03
81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½192
$1.38β½104
84.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72β½279
$2.46β½185
51.22%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½78.9
$1.15β½86.3
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56β½42.36
$0.67β½50.2
-16.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61β½121
$1.41β½106
14.18%
Eggs
$1.88β½141
$1.78β½134
5.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69β½803
$10.67β½802
0.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94β½371
$4.83β½363
2.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.22β½768
$9.01β½677
13.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07β½156
$1.79β½134
15.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.87β½141
$1.80β½135
3.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98β½149
$1.91β½144
3.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.34β½251
$2.67β½201
25.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80β½60.1
$0.79β½59.1
1.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67β½50.0
$0.67β½50.4
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09β½82.0
$1.42β½106
-23.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½53.9
$0.67β½50.3
7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.14β½236
$2.88β½216
9.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.55β½717
$6.89β½518
38.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87β½65.0
$0.94β½70.6
-7.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½162
$1.87β½141
15.51%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½39.35
$0.53β½39.81
-1.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.43β½2,361
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88β½141
$1.86β½139
1.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.77
$0.35β½26.34
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.86β½290
$6.45β½485
-40.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77β½57.5
$0.77β½57.9
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.2M
$34.1Kβ½2.6M
63.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1Kβ½2.0M
$35.2Kβ½2.6M
-22.83%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106β½7,931
$111β½8,361
-5.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48β½411
$5.98β½449
-8.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.71β½654
$7.65β½575
13.86%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.7β½4,485
$35.44β½2,662
68.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.25β½1,897
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.91β½444
$5.19β½390
13.87%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354β½26.6K
$329β½24.7K
7.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,695β½352.6K
$7,078β½531.6K
-33.67%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½5,163
$70.6β½5,305
-2.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.38β½2,958
$44.14β½3,315
-10.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1β½7,140
$114β½8,528
-16.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7β½6,059
$107β½8,068
-24.90%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$471β½35.4K
$449β½33.7K
4.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309β½23.2K
$308β½23.2K
0.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818β½61.5K
$756β½56.8K
8.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$639β½48.0K
$499β½37.5K
28.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,631β½197.6K
$2,059β½154.6K
27.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,582β½118.8K
$1,479β½111.1K
6.95%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$856β½64.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
15
15.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ukhta: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $471 in Novosibirsk and $449 in Ukhta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Ukhta. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $195, with Ukhta 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 Ukhta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ukhta cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Ukhta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Novosibirsk and $1,444 in Ukhta 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 Ukhta?
Rent for a central apartment: $471 in Novosibirsk versus $449 in Ukhta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Ukhta?
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 Ukhta?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Novosibirsk versus $963 in Ukhta β a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Ukhta?
At $963 in Ukhta versus $1,013 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ukhta but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Ukhta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Ukhta?
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 Ukhta gentler on the wallet β expenses run 5% 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