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: $1,270 in Saint Petersburg versus $252 in Astrakhan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,016 in Saint Petersburg versus $495 in Astrakhan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,762 in Saint Petersburg versus $737 in Astrakhan.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 404% more expensive than in Astrakhan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 7% lower, Astrakhan 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.21 ₽947

$8.69 ₽735

29.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.64 ₽3,519

$41.77 ₽3,529

-0.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 ₽508

$5.74 ₽485

4.70%

Cappuccino

$2.96 ₽250

$1.84 ₽156

60.87%

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

$1.46 ₽123

$1.16 ₽97.6

25.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₽58.4

$0.73 ₽61.5

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 ₽228

$1.93 ₽163

39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 ₽291

$3.45 ₽292

-0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 ₽96.2

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₽79.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 ₽140

Eggs

$1.58 ₽134

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.78 ₽996

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 ₽534

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.33 ₽1,042

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ₽143

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₽136

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 ₽145

Tomato (1kg)

$3.16 ₽267

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 ₽69.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₽50.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 ₽107

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₽68.3

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₽249

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 ₽716

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₽94.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 ₽162

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 ₽88.3

$0.50 ₽42.56

110.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.6 ₽4,525

$21.65 ₽1,830

147.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 ₽230

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₽48.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₽718

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₽71.0

$0.84 ₽70.6

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

$35.9K ₽3.0M

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

$32.7K ₽2.8M

$27.0K ₽2.3M

21.07%

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

$139 ₽11.8K

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

$7.58 ₽640

$4.83 ₽408

56.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.31 ₽702

$8.05 ₽680

3.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 ₽3,613

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$42.02 ₽3,550

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽612

$3.00 ₽254

141.33%

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

$568 ₽48.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₽1.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.7 ₽7,409

$35.28 ₽2,981

148.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₽4,327

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽11.3K

$82.5 ₽6,972

62.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 ₽10.3K

$47.35 ₽4,001

157.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 ₽62.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 ₽37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 ₽133.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$892 ₽75.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,292 ₽362.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,766 ₽233.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,146 ₽96.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.88

4.63%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: September 14, 2026

Last update for Astrakhan: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $42.00 in Saint Petersburg vs $42.00 in Astrakhan for two.

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 404% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $252 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,905 in Saint Petersburg and $378 in Astrakhan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Astrakhan – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $42.00 in Saint Petersburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $252 in Astrakhan – a 404% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $252 in Astrakhan versus $1,270 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 404% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.