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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,308 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,028 in Astrakhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,048 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,530 in Astrakhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,788 in Saint Petersburg versus $2,032 in Astrakhan.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 27% more expensive than Astrakhan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 2% lower, Astrakhan 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.46 ₽711

$10.80 ₽811

-12.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.63 ₽3,728

$33.14 ₽2,489

49.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ₽426

$7.76 ₽583

-26.93%

Cappuccino

$2.57 ₽193

$1.87 ₽141

37.43%

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

$1.08 ₽81.5

$0.85 ₽64.0

27.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₽43.63

$0.52 ₽39.31

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 ₽232

$1.30 ₽97.9

137.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 ₽293

$2.57 ₽193

51.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 ₽88.1

$1.28 ₽95.9

-8.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽71.8

$1.05 ₽79.1

-8.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ₽121

$1.02 ₽76.9

57.84%

Eggs

$1.85 ₽139

$1.77 ₽133

4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.38 ₽930

$24.66 ₽1,853

-49.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.44 ₽408

$4.98 ₽374

9.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 ₽797

$6.95 ₽522

52.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 ₽131

$1.64 ₽123

6.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽139

$1.75 ₽131

5.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ₽149

$1.62 ₽122

22.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.50 ₽263

$2.41 ₽181

45.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₽63.0

$0.95 ₽71.6

-11.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ₽48.13

$0.56 ₽41.78

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₽102

$1.39 ₽105

-2.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₽56.1

$0.66 ₽49.68

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 ₽219

$1.89 ₽142

53.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.57 ₽719

$6.59 ₽495

45.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₽76.2

$1.06 ₽79.6

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ₽154

$1.93 ₽145

6.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ₽67.9

$0.53 ₽39.46

69.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.5 ₽4,016

$21.96 ₽1,650

143.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 ₽216

$2.47 ₽186

16.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.59 ₽44.66

$0.33 ₽24.78

78.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 ₽578

$3.77 ₽283

104.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 ₽56.7

$0.94 ₽70.6

-20.21%

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

$38.8K ₽2.9M

$34.7K ₽2.6M

11.76%

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

$37.0K ₽2.8M

$32.0K ₽2.4M

15.55%

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

$132 ₽9,879

$102 ₽7,629

29.50%

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

$6.70 ₽503

$6.47 ₽486

3.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.34 ₽551

$5.51 ₽414

33.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.88 ₽2,770

$48.96 ₽3,677

-24.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.04 ₽1,730

$24.95 ₽1,874

-7.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.84 ₽439

$5.49 ₽412

6.38%

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

$397 ₽29.8K

$113 ₽8,517

250.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,653 ₽725.0K

$6,984 ₽524.5K

38.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$99.2 ₽7,449

$58.2 ₽4,370

70.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.8 ₽4,115

$31.48 ₽2,364

74.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₽8,789

$90.3 ₽6,784

29.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 ₽9,955

$126 ₽9,499

4.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$784 ₽58.9K

$418 ₽31.4K

87.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₽34.5K

$313 ₽23.5K

46.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 ₽108.3K

$440 ₽33.0K

227.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$907 ₽68.2K

$382 ₽28.7K

137.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,548 ₽341.6K

$1,686 ₽126.7K

169.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,919 ₽219.2K

$1,201 ₽90.2K

143.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,261 ₽94.7K

$508 ₽38.1K

148.31%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Astrakhan: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $784 in Saint Petersburg and $418 in Astrakhan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 148% 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: $50.0 in Saint Petersburg vs $33.00 in Astrakhan. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $231, with Saint Petersburg 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 Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saint Petersburg and Astrakhan differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,308 vs $1,028 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Saint Petersburg pays 148% more on average, 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: $784 in Saint Petersburg versus $418 in Astrakhan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 143% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $397 in Saint Petersburg versus $113 in Astrakhan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,028 in Astrakhan versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan 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 Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.