πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $955 in Ukhta.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Novosibirsk versus $1,472 in Ukhta.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,275 in Novosibirsk versus $1,989 in Ukhta.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 5% more expensive than Ukhta, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Ukhta29% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58β½549
$9.70β½703
-21.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.54β½2,720
$38.16β½2,765
-1.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21β½378
$5.64β½409
-7.62%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½207
$2.27β½164
25.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38β½100
$1.07β½77.6
28.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.1
$0.49β½35.28
75.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½185
$1.35β½97.7
88.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80β½275
$2.61β½189
45.59%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½75.8
$1.15β½83.1
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62β½44.62
$0.66β½47.82
-6.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½121
$1.41β½102
18.44%
Eggs
$1.85β½134
$1.73β½125
6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½771
$10.94β½793
-2.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18β½375
$4.95β½359
4.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08β½730
$8.67β½628
16.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10β½152
$1.81β½131
16.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88β½136
$1.89β½137
-0.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½140
$1.92β½139
0.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50β½254
$2.71β½196
29.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½53.8
$0.86β½62.2
-13.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½48.99
$0.67β½48.54
1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½81.7
$1.34β½97.4
-15.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½52.0
$0.66β½48.09
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22β½234
$2.96β½214
8.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70β½703
$8.59β½622
12.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.4
$1.02β½73.8
-15.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½156
$1.92β½139
12.50%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.41
$0.50β½36.02
6.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.64β½2,293
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93β½140
$1.93β½140
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.11
$0.33β½23.88
-24.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.78β½274
$6.36β½461
-40.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.72β½52.2
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
$34.7Kβ½2.5M
60.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
$35.2Kβ½2.5M
-23.59%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104β½7,552
$109β½7,887
-4.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51β½399
$5.98β½434
-7.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.52β½618
$7.83β½567
8.81%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9β½4,341
$35.32β½2,559
69.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02β½1,813
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.17β½447
$5.16β½374
19.57%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350β½25.4K
$329β½23.8K
6.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,694β½340.1K
$6,947β½503.4K
-32.43%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½4,983
$71.0β½5,145
-3.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32β½2,922
$44.96β½3,258
-10.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8β½6,944
$115β½8,320
-16.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7β½5,772
$106β½7,680
-24.85%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477β½34.6K
$440β½31.9K
8.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298β½21.6K
$299β½21.7K
-0.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839β½60.8K
$748β½54.2K
12.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658β½47.6K
$502β½36.4K
30.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064β½222.0K
$2,525β½182.9K
21.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,935β½140.2K
$1,659β½120.2K
16.68%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Ukhta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885β½64.1K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ukhta: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Novosibirsk and $440 in Ukhta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Ukhta. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $199, 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 $1,504 in Novosibirsk and $1,433 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: $477 in Novosibirsk versus $440 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 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 Ukhta?
All in, you'll spend $1,002 per month in Novosibirsk versus $955 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 $955 in Ukhta versus $1,002 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