Cost of Living Comparison Between Perm and Saint Petersburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Perm and Saint Petersburg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Perm vs $1,308 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,629 per month in Perm vs $2,048 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,180 per month in Perm vs $2,788 in Saint Petersburg, rent included.

Perm is about 18% cheaper than Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Perm and Saint Petersburg are more affordable than the global median – Perm 19% lower, Saint Petersburg 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 ₽650

$9.46 ₽711

-8.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.41 ₽2,360

$49.63 ₽3,729

-36.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.39 ₽405

$5.67 ₽426

-4.94%

Cappuccino

$2.26 ₽170

$2.57 ₽193

-12.06%

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

$1.01 ₽76.2

$1.08 ₽81.5

-6.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₽30.52

$0.58 ₽43.64

-29.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₽96.8

$3.09 ₽233

-58.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 ₽196

$3.90 ₽293

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 ₽69.8

$1.17 ₽88.2

-20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 ₽50.3

$0.96 ₽71.8

-30.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 ₽110

$1.61 ₽121

-8.70%

Eggs

$1.75 ₽131

$1.85 ₽139

-5.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.21 ₽692

$12.38 ₽930

-25.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 ₽355

$5.44 ₽408

-13.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ₽754

$10.62 ₽798

-5.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 ₽124

$1.75 ₽131

-5.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 ₽137

$1.85 ₽139

-1.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₽135

$1.98 ₽149

-9.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 ₽189

$3.50 ₽263

-28.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 ₽73.0

$0.84 ₽63.0

15.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 ₽61.5

$0.64 ₽48.14

28.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₽81.1

$1.36 ₽102

-20.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₽50.4

$0.75 ₽56.1

-10.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.26 ₽245

$2.91 ₽219

12.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 ₽707

$9.57 ₽719

-1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽76.9

$1.02 ₽76.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₽143

$2.05 ₽154

-7.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₽39.31

$0.90 ₽67.9

-42.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.25 ₽1,747

$53.5 ₽4,017

-56.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 ₽133

$2.87 ₽216

-38.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.18 ₽13.39

$0.59 ₽44.67

-69.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.44 ₽333

$7.70 ₽579

-42.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₽58.5

$0.75 ₽56.7

4.00%

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

$31.3K ₽2.4M

$38.8K ₽2.9M

-19.26%

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

$38.5K ₽2.9M

$37.0K ₽2.8M

3.98%

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

$104 ₽7,808

$132 ₽9,882

-20.98%

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

$5.75 ₽432

$6.70 ₽503

-14.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.43 ₽709

$7.34 ₽551

28.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.23 ₽2,346

$36.88 ₽2,770

-15.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.55 ₽1,243

$23.04 ₽1,731

-28.17%

Cinema Ticket

$5.00 ₽375

$5.84 ₽439

-14.38%

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

$334 ₽25.1K

$397 ₽29.8K

-16.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,956 ₽372.3K

$9,653 ₽725.2K

-48.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 ₽7,401

$99.2 ₽7,451

-0.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 ₽2,981

$54.8 ₽4,116

-27.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 ₽10.6K

$117 ₽8,791

20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 ₽11.2K

$133 ₽9,958

12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 ₽40.7K

$784 ₽58.9K

-30.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 ₽27.0K

$459 ₽34.5K

-21.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 ₽62.9K

$1,442 ₽108.3K

-41.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₽44.2K

$907 ₽68.2K

-35.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,283 ₽171.6K

$4,548 ₽341.7K

-49.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,655 ₽124.4K

$2,919 ₽219.3K

-43.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$866 ₽65.1K

$1,261 ₽94.7K

-31.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.62

24.95

-29.38%

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

Last update for Perm: April 28, 2026

Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $542 in Perm versus $784 in Saint Petersburg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Saint Petersburg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Perm versus $50.0 in Saint Petersburg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $223 – making Perm the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Perm vs Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Petersburg is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,618 per month in Perm and $1,961 in Saint Petersburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perm, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Saint Petersburg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Perm and $50.0 in Saint Petersburg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perm, where all-in costs run around $1,078, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,308. In Perm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Petersburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Perm – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Perm. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Petersburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.