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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,032 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,673 in Arkhangelsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,791 in Saint Petersburg versus $2,271 in Arkhangelsk.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 18% more expensive than in Arkhangelsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 7% lower, Arkhangelsk 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₽931

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ₽3,531

$46.28 ₽3,971

-11.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₽525

$9.18 ₽788

-33.33%

Cappuccino

$3.01 ₽258

$3.54 ₽303

-14.97%

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

$1.34 ₽115

$2.31 ₽198

-41.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$2.33 ₽200

-72.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₽201

$3.57 ₽307

-34.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₽247

$5.95 ₽510

-51.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽93.9

$1.06 ₽90.6

2.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₽74.3

$0.92 ₽78.6

-5.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽139

$1.79 ₽153

-9.50%

Eggs

$1.57 ₽135

$1.62 ₽139

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 ₽994

$8.08 ₽693

43.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 ₽515

$5.63 ₽483

6.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 ₽980

$12.50 ₽1,073

-8.64%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ₽146

$2.39 ₽205

-28.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₽133

$1.70 ₽146

-8.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₽154

$1.14 ₽98.2

57.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 ₽259

$2.36 ₽203

27.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₽64.3

$0.83 ₽71.0

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₽49.79

$0.45 ₽38.52

28.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ₽108

$0.47 ₽40.48

168.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽67.3

$0.55 ₽47.58

41.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₽253

$2.83 ₽243

4.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 ₽766

$8.14 ₽698

9.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₽91.7

$0.78 ₽67.3

37.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽162

$2.88 ₽248

-34.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ₽84.6

$0.58 ₽49.98

70.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.7 ₽4,437

$50.3 ₽4,320

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₽223

$4.58 ₽393

-43.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₽61.4

$0.16 ₽13.71

343.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 ₽720

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽70.0

$0.82 ₽70.3

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

$34.2K ₽2.9M

$47.1K ₽4.0M

-27.43%

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

$32.7K ₽2.8M

$34.2K ₽2.9M

-4.53%

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

$140 ₽12.0K

$108 ₽9,256

29.33%

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

$7.37 ₽632

$9.36 ₽804

-21.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.80 ₽669

$17.72 ₽1,521

-55.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 ₽3,565

$52.5 ₽4,506

-20.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.98 ₽3,002

$45.63 ₽3,916

-23.34%

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 ₽583

$9.37 ₽804

-27.53%

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

$441 ₽37.9K

$176 ₽15.1K

150.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₽7,436

$80.8 ₽6,936

7.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.99 ₽4,290

$34.23 ₽2,938

46.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽11.5K

$91.3 ₽7,835

46.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₽10.3K

$91.5 ₽7,852

31.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₽62.6K

$500 ₽42.9K

45.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₽37.2K

$379 ₽32.5K

14.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₽135.6K

$708 ₽60.7K

123.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$881 ₽75.6K

$615 ₽52.8K

43.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 ₽359.5K

$1,471 ₽126.2K

184.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₽228.4K

$1,109 ₽95.1K

140.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ₽95.2K

$488 ₽41.9K

127.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.04

-12.87%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: August 31, 2026

Last update for Arkhangelsk: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Saint Petersburg and $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 127% 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: $41.00 in Saint Petersburg vs $46.00 in Arkhangelsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $200, with Arkhangelsk cheaper for home cooking.

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 Arkhangelsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Petersburg and Arkhangelsk differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,273 vs $1,076 including rent). Arkhangelsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 127% higher in Saint Petersburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Saint Petersburg versus $500 in Arkhangelsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,273 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $1,076 in Arkhangelsk – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arkhangelsk runs roughly 3% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,076 in Arkhangelsk versus $1,273 in Saint Petersburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arkhangelsk but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Arkhangelsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Arkhangelsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.