Cost of Living Comparison Between Russia and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Russia and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,005 per month in Russia vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,556 per month in Russia vs $3,217 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,107 per month in Russia vs $4,249 in Australia, rent included.

Russia is roughly 54% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Russia sits 25% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584$2,827) than Russia ($685$1,637), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Russia
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.28 ₽772
$16.24 A$22.57
-36.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.41 ₽3,336
$77.1 A$107
-42.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 ₽485
$9.81 A$13.64
-34.15%
Cappuccino
$2.58 ₽194
$3.58 A$4.97
-27.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₽86.2
$2.57 A$3.57
-55.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₽38.06
$2.18 A$3.03
-76.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 ₽189
$6.63 A$9.22
-61.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 ₽240
$7.12 A$9.90
-55.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Russia
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 ₽90.6
$1.50 A$2.09
-19.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.69 ₽52.1
$2.53 A$3.51
-72.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 ₽109
$2.07 A$2.88
-29.95%
Eggs
$1.75 ₽132
$4.29 A$5.96
-59.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 ₽836
$8.65 A$12.02
28.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.28 ₽397
$8.34 A$11.60
-36.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.13 ₽761
$13.90 A$19.33
-27.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.82 ₽137
$3.30 A$4.58
-44.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 ₽145
$2.77 A$3.85
-30.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 ₽159
$2.95 A$4.10
-28.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 ₽232
$4.19 A$5.83
-26.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ₽63.4
$2.42 A$3.36
-65.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 ₽54.2
$2.10 A$2.92
-65.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 ₽103
$2.26 A$3.14
-39.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₽51.4
$1.50 A$2.09
-54.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 ₽227
$31.58 A$43.90
-90.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.10 ₽609
$14.29 A$19.86
-43.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 ₽74.2
$4.59 A$6.38
-78.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₽146
$4.82 A$6.70
-59.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Russia
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₽39.70
$3.02 A$4.19
-82.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.63 ₽2,602
$98.3 A$137
-64.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 ₽184
$3.48 A$4.84
-29.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽26.40
$1.75 A$2.43
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.39 ₽480
$37.97 A$52.8
-83.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 ₽55.1
$1.21 A$1.68
-39.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K ₽2.8M
$29.0K A$40.4K
29.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K ₽2.7M
$22.6K A$31.4K
58.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Russia
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 ₽9,065
$177 A$247
-31.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.60 ₽496
$26.85 A$37.32
-75.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.05 ₽604
$52.4 A$72.9
-84.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Russia
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.32 ₽2,954
$47.57 A$66.1
-17.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.29 ₽1,600
$16.46 A$22.88
29.34%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54 ₽417
$13.73 A$19.09
-59.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Russia
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$411 ₽30.9K
$1,593 A$2,215
-74.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,272 ₽696.6K
$12.7K A$17.7K
-27.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Russia
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.1 ₽5,946
$72.0 A$100
9.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.90 ₽3,524
$51.3 A$71.3
-8.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ₽8,653
$103 A$143
11.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 ₽8,808
$108 A$151
8.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Russia
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 ₽43.8K
$1,401 A$1,947
-58.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 ₽28.4K
$1,080 A$1,501
-64.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,158 ₽87.0K
$2,340 A$3,253
-50.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 ₽54.8K
$1,756 A$2,441
-58.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,674 ₽200.9K
$7,733 A$10.7K
-65.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,851 ₽139.0K
$5,563 A$7,733
-66.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Russia
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$865 ₽65.0K
$4,000 A$5,560
-78.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.88
6.35
165.83%

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

Last update for Russia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $446 in Russia vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,335 in Moscow and $1,529 in Canberra.

Average salary: $802 in Russia vs $3,878 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 176% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 93% more in Australia.

Public transport is 644% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 384% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Russia vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Russia?
Russia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 90% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Russia, contributing to the overall 90% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Australia or Russia?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Russia, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Russia?
Russia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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