Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Ulyanovsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Ulyanovsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,000 in Novosibirsk versus $844 in Ulyanovsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Novosibirsk versus $1,259 in Ulyanovsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,227 in Novosibirsk versus $1,675 in Ulyanovsk.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 19% more expensive than in Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 25% lower, Ulyanovsk 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.39 ₽581

$8.97 ₽705

-17.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.91 ₽2,978

$32.25 ₽2,534

17.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.22 ₽410

$5.81 ₽456

-10.15%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ₽220

$2.32 ₽182

20.69%

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

$1.33 ₽105

$1.05 ₽82.5

26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₽63.0

$0.49 ₽38.77

63.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ₽197

$0.92 ₽72.4

172.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 ₽294

$1.60 ₽126

133.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ₽82.4

$1.11 ₽87.0

-5.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ₽48.34

$0.60 ₽47.22

3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ₽126

$1.20 ₽94.0

33.33%

Eggs

$1.90 ₽149

$1.51 ₽118

25.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 ₽865

$9.27 ₽728

18.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ₽403

$4.68 ₽367

9.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 ₽806

$8.56 ₽672

19.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 ₽158

$1.30 ₽102

54.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₽144

$1.48 ₽117

23.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 ₽157

$1.51 ₽118

31.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₽271

$1.75 ₽138

97.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 ₽61.4

$0.68 ₽53.0

14.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽51.9

$0.39 ₽30.95

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₽85.2

$1.80 ₽141

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽52.6

$0.50 ₽38.92

34.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽251

$1.39 ₽109

130.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 ₽752

$4.66 ₽366

105.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₽72.6

$0.86 ₽67.6

6.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 ₽166

$1.82 ₽143

16.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽41.97

$0.40 ₽31.70

32.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.18 ₽2,449

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₽148

$1.95 ₽154

-3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽19.46

$0.18 ₽14.52

38.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 ₽305

$3.83 ₽301

1.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 ₽55.2

$0.76 ₽59.4

-7.89%

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

$56.4K ₽4.4M

$49.6K ₽3.9M

13.79%

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

$26.8K ₽2.1M

$43.5K ₽3.4M

-38.45%

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

$107 ₽8,429

$102 ₽8,028

5.00%

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

$5.61 ₽441

$5.46 ₽429

2.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.43 ₽662

$5.46 ₽429

54.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.7 ₽4,687

$34.90 ₽2,742

70.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.44 ₽1,920

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 ₽463

$4.19 ₽329

40.57%

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

$354 ₽27.8K

$90.3 ₽7,096

291.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,706 ₽369.7K

$6,112 ₽480.2K

-23.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 ₽5,320

$101 ₽7,936

-32.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.96 ₽3,139

$47.69 ₽3,747

-16.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.1 ₽7,474

$88.7 ₽6,964

7.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 ₽6,203

$75.8 ₽5,954

4.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 ₽36.7K

$314 ₽24.7K

48.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽23.8K

$236 ₽18.6K

28.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$841 ₽66.1K

$564 ₽44.3K

49.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 ₽51.5K

$303 ₽23.8K

116.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,755 ₽216.4K

$2,283 ₽179.4K

20.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,780 ₽139.8K

$1,374 ₽107.9K

29.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$846 ₽66.5K

$708 ₽55.6K

19.49%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $467 in Novosibirsk and $314 in Ulyanovsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novosibirsk pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $32.00 in Ulyanovsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $168 per month, with Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulyanovsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Novosibirsk, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $467 in Novosibirsk versus $314 in Ulyanovsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,000 per month in Novosibirsk versus $844 in Ulyanovsk – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $844 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,000 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulyanovsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.