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: $1,017 in Novosibirsk versus $835 in Ulyanovsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,647 in Novosibirsk versus $1,239 in Ulyanovsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,276 in Novosibirsk versus $1,642 in Ulyanovsk.

Living in Novosibirsk is roughly 22% more expensive than Ulyanovsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 24% lower, Ulyanovsk 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.46 ₽544

$8.93 ₽652

-16.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.34 ₽2,725

$31.68 ₽2,312

17.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 ₽361

$5.58 ₽408

-11.29%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₽210

$2.41 ₽176

19.09%

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

$1.35 ₽98.8

$1.11 ₽81.0

21.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ₽61.3

$0.46 ₽33.36

82.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 ₽183

$0.85 ₽61.8

194.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 ₽282

$1.67 ₽122

131.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽80.3

$1.10 ₽80.6

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 ₽41.37

$0.65 ₽47.23

-12.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 ₽123

$1.19 ₽86.8

42.02%

Eggs

$1.79 ₽131

$1.57 ₽114

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.93 ₽798

$9.35 ₽682

16.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 ₽373

$4.75 ₽347

7.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ₽734

$8.51 ₽621

18.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 ₽153

$1.25 ₽90.9

67.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ₽141

$1.50 ₽109

28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽141

$1.46 ₽107

32.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.35 ₽245

$1.74 ₽127

92.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ₽55.3

$0.67 ₽48.62

13.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 ₽48.95

$0.39 ₽28.68

71.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ₽79.3

$1.75 ₽128

-37.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.6

$0.54 ₽39.40

35.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₽234

$1.38 ₽101

131.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 ₽699

$4.98 ₽363

92.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽66.5

$0.91 ₽66.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₽149

$1.77 ₽129

15.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₽38.76

$0.43 ₽31.58

23.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.65 ₽2,310

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽135

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₽18.21

$0.19 ₽13.75

31.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.90 ₽285

$3.92 ₽286

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽54.2

$0.76 ₽55.4

-2.63%

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

$55.1K ₽4.0M

$48.7K ₽3.6M

13.23%

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

$26.4K ₽1.9M

$44.7K ₽3.3M

-40.80%

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

$107 ₽7,782

$102 ₽7,465

4.25%

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

$5.48 ₽400

$5.47 ₽399

0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.77 ₽640

$5.59 ₽408

56.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ₽4,432

$35.95 ₽2,624

68.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 ₽1,779

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 ₽438

$4.07 ₽297

47.17%

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

$354 ₽25.8K

$89.2 ₽6,511

297.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,701 ₽343.2K

$6,038 ₽440.7K

-22.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.9 ₽5,103

$100 ₽7,317

-30.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.91 ₽2,913

$47.92 ₽3,498

-16.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 ₽7,052

$87.2 ₽6,364

10.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 ₽5,683

$75.7 ₽5,523

2.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₽34.3K

$316 ₽23.0K

48.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ₽22.0K

$234 ₽17.1K

28.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 ₽61.3K

$565 ₽41.2K

48.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 ₽47.2K

$304 ₽22.2K

112.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,092 ₽225.7K

$2,443 ₽178.3K

26.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,999 ₽145.9K

$1,482 ₽108.2K

34.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$897 ₽65.5K

$742 ₽54.1K

20.94%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Novosibirsk and $316 in Ulyanovsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novosibirsk pays 21% 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: $37.00 in Novosibirsk vs $32.00 in Ulyanovsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $170 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Novosibirsk pays 21% more on average, 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: $470 in Novosibirsk versus $316 in Ulyanovsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Novosibirsk versus $835 in Ulyanovsk – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,017 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 22% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.