πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Novosibirsk versus $992 in Velikiye Luki.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,615 in Novosibirsk versus $1,492 in Velikiye Luki.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,216 in Novosibirsk versus $1,992 in Velikiye Luki.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 2% more expensive than Velikiye Luki, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk24% lower, Velikiye Luki26% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.77β½583
$9.77β½733
-20.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.19β½2,865
$38.37β½2,880
-0.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16β½387
$5.81β½436
-11.19%
Cappuccino
$2.85β½214
$2.33β½175
22.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40β½105
$1.08β½81.3
29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84β½63.4
$0.52β½38.77
61.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61β½196
$1.42β½106
83.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78β½283
$2.56β½192
47.66%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10β½82.6
$1.11β½83.5
-0.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61β½46.14
$0.66β½49.41
-7.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60β½120
$1.43β½107
11.89%
Eggs
$1.81β½136
$1.73β½130
4.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62β½797
$10.70β½803
-0.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.95β½371
$4.89β½367
1.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.14β½761
$8.63β½647
17.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.99β½149
$1.81β½136
9.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.81β½136
6.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92β½144
$1.90β½142
1.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46β½260
$2.81β½211
23.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½55.2
$0.83β½62.5
-10.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½51.0
$0.66β½49.32
3.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08β½81.1
$1.35β½102
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½53.9
$0.71β½53.5
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.25β½244
$2.98β½223
9.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.27β½695
$14.00β½1,051
-33.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94β½70.5
$1.00β½75.1
-6.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07β½155
$1.88β½141
10.11%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52β½39.19
$0.50β½37.44
4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.37β½2,354
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88β½141
$1.95β½147
-3.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27β½20.48
$0.33β½24.41
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92β½294
$6.41β½481
-38.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½57.0
$0.74β½55.3
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.0Kβ½4.1M
$34.3Kβ½2.6M
60.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4Kβ½2.0M
$35.4Kβ½2.7M
-25.39%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108β½8,076
$108β½8,107
-0.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.37β½403
$5.99β½449
-10.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.57β½643
$7.76β½582
10.44%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6β½4,549
$36.26β½2,721
67.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.47β½1,837
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92β½444
$5.03β½378
17.69%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$357β½26.8K
$329β½24.7K
8.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,688β½351.7K
$6,962β½522.4K
-32.67%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3β½5,051
$69.2β½5,189
-2.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98β½2,925
$44.92β½3,370
-13.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4β½7,235
$112β½8,436
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6β½5,895
$105β½7,884
-25.22%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483β½36.2K
$444β½33.3K
8.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$304β½22.8K
$309β½23.2K
-1.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830β½62.3K
$761β½57.1K
9.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$643β½48.2K
$513β½38.5K
25.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,638β½197.9K
$1,809β½135.7K
45.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,589β½119.2K
$1,320β½99.0K
20.38%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$845β½63.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.38
15.33
13.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Novosibirsk: April 20, 2026
Last update for Velikiye Luki: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Novosibirsk and $444 in Velikiye Luki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $38 in Novosibirsk vs $38 in Velikiye Luki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $209 per month, with Novosibirsk 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 Velikiye Luki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Velikiye Luki cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Velikiye Luki is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,521 in Novosibirsk and $1,487 in Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Novosibirsk versus $444 in Velikiye Luki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and Velikiye Luki?
Shoppers in Novosibirsk pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Novosibirsk vs Velikiye Luki?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Novosibirsk versus $992 in Velikiye Luki β a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Novosibirsk or Velikiye Luki?
At $992 in Velikiye Luki versus $1,014 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Velikiye Luki but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Velikiye Luki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or Velikiye Luki?
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 Velikiye Luki gentler on the wallet β expenses run 2% 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