Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Yakutsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Novosibirsk: $1,121 a month against $1,267 in Yakutsk, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Novosibirsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,121
/mo nomad
Yakutsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,267
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novosibirsk and in Yakutsk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Novosibirsk and in Yakutsk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Novosibirsk versus $1,267 in Yakutsk.

  • Novosibirsk $1,121
  • Yakutsk $1,267

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,786 in Novosibirsk versus $1,829 in Yakutsk.

  • Novosibirsk $1,786
  • Yakutsk $1,829

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,451 in Novosibirsk versus $2,391 in Yakutsk.

  • Novosibirsk $2,451
  • Yakutsk $2,391

Living in Novosibirsk costs roughly 12% less than in Yakutsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novosibirsk 17% lower, Yakutsk 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.52 ₽962
$14.54 ₽1,214
-20.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.38 ₽4,038
$42.12 ₽3,515
14.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.06 ₽506
$9.14 ₽762
-33.70%
Cappuccino
$2.66 ₽222
$4.32 ₽360
-38.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₽92.7
$1.72 ₽143
-35.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₽47.92
$0.93 ₽78.0
-38.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₽98.5
$3.57 ₽298
-66.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 ₽300
$2.44 ₽204
47.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 ₽100
$1.91 ₽159
-37.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 ₽58.5
$0.96 ₽80.0
-27.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 ₽114
$1.67 ₽140
-17.96%
Eggs
$1.61 ₽135
$2.20 ₽183
-26.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.06 ₽1,007
$13.78 ₽1,150
-12.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.80 ₽401
$8.03 ₽670
-40.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.01 ₽1,002
$12.70 ₽1,060
-5.43%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ₽164
$3.06 ₽256
-35.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 ₽149
$2.45 ₽205
-27.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ₽163
$3.19 ₽267
-38.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.30 ₽275
$5.09 ₽425
-35.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 ₽73.0
$1.23 ₽102
-29.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.60 ₽50.0
$1.14 ₽94.8
-47.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 ₽122
$1.18 ₽98.6
24.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₽66.6
$1.06 ₽88.4
-24.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 ₽266
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 ₽846
$9.72 ₽811
4.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₽79.4
$1.42 ₽118
-33.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₽138
$3.03 ₽253
-45.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 ₽46.81
$0.71 ₽59.6
-21.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.40 ₽2,453
$20.12 ₽1,679
46.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.41 ₽201
$1.98 ₽166
21.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.49 ₽41.11
$0.21 ₽17.48
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 ₽514
$4.94 ₽413
24.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 ₽73.1
$0.88 ₽73.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.8K ₽3.6M
$18.1K ₽1.5M
136.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K ₽3.2M
$19.6K ₽1.6M
97.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ₽9,089
$201 ₽16.8K
-45.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.32 ₽611
$4.80 ₽400
52.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.35 ₽697
$10.85 ₽905
-23.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.80 ₽3,155
$72.8 ₽6,072
-48.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.99 ₽2,503
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.29 ₽609
$7.29 ₽608
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 ₽25.3K
$471 ₽39.3K
-35.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 ₽5,865
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.16 ₽3,852
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$140 ₽11.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.3 ₽8,201
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 ₽45.6K
$922 ₽76.9K
-40.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$367 ₽30.6K
$420 ₽35.1K
-12.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 ₽84.8K
$1,226 ₽102.3K
-17.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 ₽56.1K
$595 ₽49.6K
12.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,352 ₽196.3K
$2,213 ₽184.7K
6.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,778 ₽148.4K
$1,938 ₽161.7K
-8.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novosibirsk
Yakutsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$887 ₽74.0K
$974 ₽81.3K
-8.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.83
21
8.71%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: October 20, 2026

Last update for Yakutsk: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Novosibirsk
$367
Yakutsk
$420 14.7% $54
Groceries & Markets
Novosibirsk
$220
Yakutsk
$288 31.1% $68
Eating Out
Novosibirsk
$162
Yakutsk
$229 41.2% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Novosibirsk
$160
Yakutsk
- * 100%
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novosibirsk
$125
Yakutsk
$217 73.9% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Novosibirsk
$52
Yakutsk
$87 66.7% $35
Getting Around
Novosibirsk
$37
Yakutsk
$26 28.8% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $546 in Novosibirsk and $922 in Yakutsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yakutsk pays 10% 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: $48.00 in Novosibirsk vs $42.00 in Yakutsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $220 vs $288, with Novosibirsk cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Novosibirsk
🇷🇺 Yakutsk
🕒 Local time
18:39 6:39 PM
20:39 8:39 PM
2 h ahead of Novosibirsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,620,162
361,154
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novosibirsk Yakutsk 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Novosibirsk
  • Yakutsk

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Yakutsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yakutsk cheaper than Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Novosibirsk or Yakutsk?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Yakutsk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Novosibirsk and Yakutsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $546 in Novosibirsk versus $922 in Yakutsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $303 in Novosibirsk versus $471 in Yakutsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Novosibirsk and in Yakutsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Yakutsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Novosibirsk or in Yakutsk?
At $1,121 in Novosibirsk versus $1,267 in Yakutsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Yakutsk. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Novosibirsk or in Yakutsk?
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.
Which city is safer, Novosibirsk or Yakutsk?
Safety-wise, Novosibirsk and Yakutsk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Yakutsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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