πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,002 in Novosibirsk versus $962 in Velikiye Luki.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,639 in Novosibirsk versus $1,509 in Velikiye Luki.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,275 in Novosibirsk versus $2,057 in Velikiye Luki.
πLiving in Novosibirsk is roughly 4% more expensive than Velikiye Luki, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk25% lower, Velikiye Luki28% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58β½549
$9.38β½679
-19.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.54β½2,720
$38.46β½2,787
-2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.21β½378
$5.81β½421
-10.33%
Cappuccino
$2.86β½207
$2.33β½169
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38β½100
$1.13β½81.6
22.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.1
$0.52β½37.66
65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55β½185
$1.41β½103
80.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80β½275
$2.57β½186
47.86%
π Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05β½75.8
$1.15β½83.1
-8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62β½44.62
$0.70β½50.6
-11.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67β½121
$1.42β½103
17.61%
Eggs
$1.85β½134
$1.72β½124
7.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.64β½771
$10.76β½780
-1.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18β½375
$4.77β½346
8.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08β½730
$8.62β½625
16.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10β½152
$1.79β½130
17.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.88β½136
$1.80β½130
4.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93β½140
$1.89β½137
2.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50β½254
$2.66β½193
31.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74β½53.8
$0.84β½61.1
-11.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68β½48.99
$0.71β½51.5
-4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13β½81.7
$1.35β½97.7
-16.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72β½52.0
$0.68β½49.19
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22β½234
$2.97β½215
8.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.70β½703
$14.43β½1,046
-32.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86β½62.4
$1.00β½72.2
-14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16β½156
$1.94β½141
11.34%
π Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53β½38.41
$0.49β½35.14
8.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.64β½2,293
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.93β½140
$1.86β½135
3.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25β½18.11
$0.35β½25.38
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.78β½274
$6.41β½464
-41.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76β½55.3
$0.77β½55.6
-1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$55.8Kβ½4.0M
$34.5Kβ½2.5M
61.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9Kβ½1.9M
$35.3Kβ½2.6M
-23.90%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104β½7,552
$110β½8,006
-5.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51β½399
$5.85β½424
-5.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.52β½618
$7.61β½551
11.96%
π Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.9β½4,341
$35.54β½2,575
68.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.02β½1,813
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.17β½447
$5.03β½364
22.66%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350β½25.4K
$318β½23.1K
9.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,694β½340.1K
$6,930β½502.1K
-32.26%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8β½4,983
$69.8β½5,056
-1.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.32β½2,922
$44.34β½3,213
-9.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8β½6,944
$114β½8,296
-16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7β½5,772
$109β½7,894
-26.89%
π Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477β½34.6K
$438β½31.7K
8.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298β½21.6K
$309β½22.4K
-3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$839β½60.8K
$756β½54.8K
11.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658β½47.6K
$506β½36.7K
29.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064β½222.0K
$2,383β½172.7K
28.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,935β½140.2K
$1,665β½120.7K
16.22%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Velikiye Luki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$885β½64.1K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Velikiye Luki: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Novosibirsk and $438 in Velikiye Luki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $38.00 in Novosibirsk vs $38.00 in Velikiye Luki. Groceries flip the comparison at $210 vs $209, with Velikiye Luki 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 Velikiye Luki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Velikiye Luki cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Velikiye Luki is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% 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 $1,443 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: $477 in Novosibirsk versus $438 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 Velikiye Luki?
All in, you'll spend $1,002 per month in Novosibirsk versus $962 in Velikiye Luki β a 4% 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 $962 in Velikiye Luki versus $1,002 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 4% 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