Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Obninsk and Moscow

For one person, living is cheaper in Obninsk: $1,196 a month against $1,843 in Moscow, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Obninsk, Russia
Moscow, Russia
Obninsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,196
/mo nomad
Moscow
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,843
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Obninsk and in Moscow

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

A single person spends $1,196 per month in Obninsk vs $1,843 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Obninsk $1,196
  • Moscow $1,843

A couple spends around $1,805 per month in Obninsk vs $2,822 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Obninsk $1,805
  • Moscow $2,822

A family of three spends $2,413 per month in Obninsk vs $3,801 in Moscow, rent included.

  • Obninsk $2,413
  • Moscow $3,801

Obninsk is about 35% cheaper than Moscow, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Obninsk sits 12% below the global median, while Moscow is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.57 ₽781
$12.14 ₽991
-21.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.78 ₽3,004
$62.2 ₽5,076
-40.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.37 ₽602
$7.31 ₽597
0.82%
Cappuccino
$3.01 ₽246
$3.72 ₽304
-19.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₽98.0
$1.67 ₽136
-28.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₽38.85
$0.83 ₽67.5
-42.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 ₽148
$5.03 ₽411
-64.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₽195
$4.84 ₽395
-50.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 ₽95.6
$1.24 ₽101
-5.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ₽48.94
$1.00 ₽81.3
-40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 ₽144
$1.71 ₽139
3.51%
Eggs
$1.30 ₽106
$1.90 ₽155
-31.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.69 ₽628
$14.34 ₽1,171
-46.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.79 ₽391
$6.65 ₽543
-27.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.38 ₽684
$14.53 ₽1,186
-42.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.60 ₽131
$2.07 ₽169
-22.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ₽138
$1.89 ₽154
-10.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ₽155
$1.91 ₽156
-0.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.48 ₽202
$3.96 ₽323
-37.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.53 ₽43.34
$0.93 ₽75.8
-43.01%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 ₽43.97
$0.70 ₽57.3
-22.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ₽81.1
$1.64 ₽134
-39.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₽45.04
$0.92 ₽74.9
-40.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 ₽280
$3.50 ₽286
-2.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.76 ₽716
$12.25 ₽1,000
-28.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 ₽102
$1.18 ₽96.3
5.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 ₽155
$2.54 ₽207
-25.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₽43.47
$0.95 ₽77.3
-44.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.47 ₽1,998
$42.83 ₽3,498
-42.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 ₽293
$3.60 ₽294
-0.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 ₽28.99
$0.76 ₽62.4
-52.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 ₽503
$11.20 ₽915
-45.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₽74.2
$0.90 ₽73.3
1.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.6K ₽3.6M
$42.9K ₽3.5M
1.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K ₽3.2M
$40.0K ₽3.3M
-1.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$181 ₽14.8K
$177 ₽14.5K
2.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.59 ₽702
$8.76 ₽715
-1.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.73 ₽794
$9.72 ₽794
0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.25 ₽3,123
$42.21 ₽3,447
-9.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.87 ₽2,194
$46.14 ₽3,768
-41.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08 ₽742
$9.50 ₽776
-4.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$354 ₽28.9K
$869 ₽71.0K
-59.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,281 ₽512.9K
$30.2K ₽2.5M
-79.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 ₽8,568
$106 ₽8,677
-1.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2 ₽5,409
$67.5 ₽5,515
-1.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 ₽11.7K
$144 ₽11.8K
-0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$177 ₽14.5K
$179 ₽14.6K
-1.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₽40.8K
$1,481 ₽121.0K
-66.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$351 ₽28.6K
$837 ₽68.3K
-58.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 ₽76.1K
$3,018 ₽246.4K
-69.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$596 ₽48.7K
$1,487 ₽121.4K
-59.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,255 ₽184.1K
$9,639 ₽787.1K
-76.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,505 ₽122.9K
$4,728 ₽386.1K
-68.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Obninsk
Moscow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,804 ₽147.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.36
19.36
-

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

Last update for Obninsk: October 31, 2026

Last update for Moscow: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Obninsk
$351
Moscow
$837 139% $486
Clothing & Footwear
Obninsk
$221
Moscow
$223 1% $2.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Obninsk
$199
Moscow
$196 1.8% $3.6
Groceries & Markets
Obninsk
$181
Moscow
$263 45.3% $82
Eating Out
Obninsk
$155
Moscow
$208 34.3% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Obninsk
$56
Moscow
$61 8.5% $4.8
Getting Around
Obninsk
$32
Moscow
$54 69.1% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Obninsk versus $1,481 in Moscow. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Obninsk versus $62 in Moscow. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $263 – making Obninsk the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Obninsk
🇷🇺 Moscow
🕒 Local time
08:47 8:47 AM
08:47 8:47 AM
Same time as Obninsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,179
12,700,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 81.66 RUB (100 RUB = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 91.67 RUB (100 RUB = 1.09 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Obninsk Moscow 97 km
From you
  • Obninsk
  • Moscow

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
Obninsk vs Moscow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Obninsk or Moscow?
Moscow costs about 54% more than Obninsk, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Obninsk and in Moscow?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,794 per month in Obninsk and $2,764 in Moscow. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Obninsk or Moscow?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Obninsk, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $500 there versus $1,481 in Moscow.
How expensive is transport in Obninsk compared to Moscow?
Public transport costs about 43% less in Obninsk. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Obninsk and in Moscow?
Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Obninsk and $869 in Moscow. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Obninsk or in Moscow?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,196 in Obninsk and $1,843 in Moscow. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Obninsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Obninsk is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 35% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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