Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Novosibirsk versus $1,377 in Yekaterinburg.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,769 in Novosibirsk versus $2,242 in Yekaterinburg.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,422 in Novosibirsk versus $3,106 in Yekaterinburg.

Living in Novosibirsk costs roughly 19% less than in Yekaterinburg, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Novosibirsk is 18% below, Yekaterinburg is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.88 ₽1,001

$11.94 ₽1,005

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.77 ₽3,517

$54.3 ₽4,569

-23.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₽513

Cappuccino

$2.47 ₽208

$2.40 ₽202

2.92%

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

$1.13 ₽95.1

$1.16 ₽98.0

-2.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.5

$0.39 ₽33.25

56.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₽101

$2.14 ₽181

-43.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ₽307

$3.01 ₽253

20.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 ₽101

$1.11 ₽93.5

8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ₽59.9

$0.67 ₽56.1

5.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 ₽127

$1.29 ₽108

17.05%

Eggs

$1.67 ₽140

$1.57 ₽132

6.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.71 ₽986

$12.34 ₽1,040

-5.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 ₽407

$5.18 ₽436

-6.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.32 ₽953

$12.59 ₽1,060

-10.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ₽163

$2.01 ₽169

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ₽139

$1.82 ₽153

-9.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 ₽156

$1.58 ₽133

17.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 ₽260

$2.69 ₽227

14.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽68.9

$0.65 ₽54.9

26.15%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ₽55.4

$0.57 ₽47.65

15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 ₽130

$1.48 ₽124

4.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽60.4

$0.96 ₽81.0

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 ₽254

$3.52 ₽296

-14.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.50 ₽884

$7.01 ₽591

49.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽86.2

$1.26 ₽106

-19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽153

$2.62 ₽221

-30.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽43.45

$0.49 ₽40.84

6.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.29 ₽2,382

$17.67 ₽1,488

60.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 ₽176

$4.23 ₽356

-50.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₽40.44

$0.19 ₽16.20

152.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.91 ₽498

$4.28 ₽361

38.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽69.2

$0.77 ₽64.9

6.49%

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

$23.6K ₽2.0M

$35.0K ₽2.9M

-32.49%

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

$33.4K ₽2.8M

$28.1K ₽2.4M

19.11%

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

$110 ₽9,302

$131 ₽11.0K

-15.45%

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

$7.22 ₽608

$6.24 ₽525

15.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.60 ₽724

$12.00 ₽1,011

-28.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.70 ₽3,259

$43.14 ₽3,633

-10.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.34 ₽2,471

$35.21 ₽2,965

-16.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽610

$6.50 ₽547

11.38%

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

$292 ₽24.6K

$347 ₽29.2K

-15.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,733 ₽314.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 ₽5,780

$131 ₽11.0K

-47.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.23 ₽3,893

$98.2 ₽8,267

-52.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₽10.5K

$172 ₽14.5K

-27.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.5 ₽8,043

$179 ₽15.1K

-46.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$560 ₽47.1K

$858 ₽72.2K

-34.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₽32.8K

$523 ₽44.0K

-25.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$991 ₽83.5K

$1,341 ₽112.9K

-26.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 ₽59.4K

$1,066 ₽89.8K

-33.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,424 ₽204.1K

$2,450 ₽206.3K

-1.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,794 ₽151.1K

$1,700 ₽143.2K

5.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.1K

$952 ₽80.1K

-8.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

22.33

2.24%

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

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Last update for Yekaterinburg: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $560 in Novosibirsk and $858 in Yekaterinburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yekaterinburg 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: $42.00 in Novosibirsk vs $54.0 in Yekaterinburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $217 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 Yekaterinburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Yekaterinburg. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $560 in Novosibirsk versus $858 in Yekaterinburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $292 in Novosibirsk versus $347 in Yekaterinburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Yekaterinburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,117 in Novosibirsk versus $1,377 in Yekaterinburg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Yekaterinburg. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Novosibirsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Yekaterinburg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Yekaterinburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.