Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Ulan Ude Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Ulan Ude

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Novosibirsk versus $1,093 in Ulan Ude.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Novosibirsk versus $1,679 in Ulan Ude.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,422 in Novosibirsk versus $2,265 in Ulan Ude.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 2% more expensive than in Ulan Ude, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 18% lower, Ulan Ude 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 ₽1,004

$6.68 ₽565

77.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₽3,529

$47.49 ₽4,012

-12.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₽515

$7.23 ₽611

-15.77%

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽209

$3.50 ₽296

-29.43%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₽95.4

$1.83 ₽154

-38.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.6

$1.82 ₽154

-66.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₽102

$3.61 ₽305

-66.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₽308

$5.91 ₽499

-38.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽101

$1.27 ₽107

-5.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽60.1

$0.84 ₽71.4

-15.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ₽128

$0.46 ₽38.77

228.26%

Eggs

$1.67 ₽141

$1.86 ₽158

-10.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 ₽990

$11.85 ₽1,002

-1.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₽409

$6.07 ₽513

-20.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ₽956

$10.57 ₽893

7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽163

$1.21 ₽102

59.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽139

$1.74 ₽147

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₽157

$1.16 ₽98.3

59.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₽261

$2.31 ₽195

33.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽69.1

$0.58 ₽48.98

41.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽55.6

$0.81 ₽68.0

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ₽130

$3.58 ₽302

-56.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽60.6

$0.70 ₽58.8

2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽255

$2.85 ₽241

5.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 ₽887

$8.19 ₽692

28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽86.5

$0.61 ₽51.9

67.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽154

$1.16 ₽98.1

56.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽43.59

$0.45 ₽38.31

15.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.29 ₽2,390

$23.76 ₽2,007

19.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽177

$1.28 ₽108

63.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₽40.57

$0.15 ₽12.50

220.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₽499

$7.13 ₽602

-17.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.4

$0.83 ₽70.3

-1.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$47.3K ₽4.0M

-50.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$35.0K ₽3.0M

-4.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$110 ₽9,333

$120 ₽10.1K

-7.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.22 ₽610

$3.65 ₽309

97.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.60 ₽727

$8.23 ₽696

4.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₽3,270

$23.57 ₽1,991

64.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.34 ₽2,479

$47.39 ₽4,004

-38.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽612

$7.24 ₽611

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$292 ₽24.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 ₽5,799

$70.9 ₽5,993

-3.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 ₽3,906

$29.65 ₽2,505

55.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₽10.6K

$117 ₽9,900

6.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ₽8,069

$117 ₽9,896

-18.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 ₽47.3K

$498 ₽42.1K

12.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₽32.9K

$366 ₽30.9K

6.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₽83.7K

$760 ₽64.3K

30.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₽59.6K

$596 ₽50.3K

18.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,424 ₽204.8K

$1,975 ₽166.8K

22.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,794 ₽151.6K

$1,551 ₽131.0K

15.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.3K

$882 ₽74.5K

-1.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

21.67

5.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ulan Ude: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $560 in Novosibirsk and $498 in Ulan Ude. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulan Ude pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $47.00 in Ulan Ude. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $209, with Ulan Ude 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 Ulan Ude: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulan Ude is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Ulan Ude. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $560 in Novosibirsk versus $498 in Ulan Ude. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,117 per month in Novosibirsk versus $1,093 in Ulan Ude – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,093 in Ulan Ude versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ulan Ude but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Ulan Ude the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Ulan Ude gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.