😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Saint Petersburg versus $958 in Abaza.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,014 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,461 in Abaza.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,768 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,964 in Abaza.
🌍Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 31% more expensive than in Abaza, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg5% lower, Abaza28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.25₽678
$9.29₽681
-0.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.80₽3,652
$37.42₽2,744
33.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.80₽425
$5.77₽423
0.52%
Cappuccino
$2.71₽199
$2.35₽173
15.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₽79.2
$1.08₽79.0
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₽43.13
$0.52₽37.77
13.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.10₽227
$1.43₽105
116.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75₽275
$2.49₽182
50.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16₽84.9
$0.59₽43.02
96.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94₽68.8
$0.70₽51.5
34.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57₽115
$1.38₽101
13.77%
Eggs
$1.92₽141
$1.79₽131
7.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.14₽891
$10.95₽803
10.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41₽397
$4.99₽366
8.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.96₽804
$8.64₽634
26.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74₽127
$1.72₽126
1.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85₽135
$1.80₽132
2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96₽144
$1.93₽141
1.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.51₽257
$2.76₽203
27.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85₽62.2
$0.85₽62.1
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.69₽50.7
$0.71₽52.0
-2.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30₽95.4
$1.35₽99.0
-3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73₽53.4
$0.68₽49.75
7.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94₽216
$2.97₽218
-1.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.54₽699
$8.33₽611
14.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04₽76.6
$1.03₽75.3
0.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07₽152
$1.88₽138
10.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87₽63.5
$0.53₽38.62
64.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9₽3,954
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84₽208
$1.94₽142
46.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55₽40.02
$0.35₽25.93
57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.72₽566
$6.33₽465
21.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽54.8
$0.73₽53.2
2.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K₽2.8M
$34.1K₽2.5M
12.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7K₽2.8M
$35.7K₽2.6M
5.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134₽9,840
$110₽8,085
21.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.84₽502
$6.10₽447
12.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.33₽537
$7.86₽577
-6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.78₽2,771
$35.15₽2,578
7.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.94₽1,682
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.55₽407
$5.20₽381
6.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$395₽28.9K
$325₽23.9K
21.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,647₽707.5K
$6,958₽510.3K
38.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102₽7,479
$69.8₽5,121
46.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.0₽4,035
$44.06₽3,231
24.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116₽8,529
$113₽8,254
3.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137₽10.0K
$109₽7,976
25.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776₽56.9K
$442₽32.4K
75.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475₽34.8K
$308₽22.6K
54.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,409₽103.3K
$768₽56.3K
83.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$904₽66.3K
$514₽37.7K
75.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,801₽352.1K
$2,530₽185.6K
89.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,057₽224.2K
$1,489₽109.2K
105.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Petersburg
Abaza
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,337₽98.1K
$1,376₽100.9K
-2.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.95
15.33
62.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Petersburg: June 13, 2026
Last update for Abaza: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $776 in Saint Petersburg and $442 in Abaza. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abaza pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Saint Petersburg vs $37.00 in Abaza for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $193 per month, with Abaza 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
Saint Petersburg vs Abaza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abaza cheaper than Saint Petersburg?
Abaza is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saint Petersburg or Abaza?
On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Abaza. 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 Saint Petersburg and Abaza?
Rent for a central apartment: $776 in Saint Petersburg versus $442 in Abaza. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $395 in Saint Petersburg versus $325 in Abaza. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint Petersburg or in Abaza?
Dining out is cheaper in Abaza – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $50.0 in Saint Petersburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Saint Petersburg or in Abaza?
At $958 in Abaza versus $1,260 in Saint Petersburg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abaza but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Abaza the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saint Petersburg or Abaza more family-friendly?
For families, Abaza is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint Petersburg, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abaza gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint Petersburg vs other spots: cost of living compared