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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $966 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,018 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,476 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,772 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,987 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Saint Petersburg costs about 31% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Saint Petersburg and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Saint Petersburg 6% lower, Makhachkala 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.55 ₽727

$15.62 ₽1,188

-38.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.61 ₽3,697

$38.69 ₽2,943

25.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.83 ₽443

$5.19 ₽395

12.33%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₽198

$3.24 ₽246

-19.75%

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

$1.13 ₽86.0

$0.84 ₽63.6

34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ₽44.73

$0.35 ₽26.81

68.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 ₽245

$1.37 ₽104

135.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ₽288

$2.57 ₽195

47.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 ₽92.1

$1.51 ₽115

-19.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 ₽71.7

$0.65 ₽49.55

44.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ₽120

$1.38 ₽105

13.77%

Eggs

$1.95 ₽148

$1.38 ₽105

41.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 ₽910

$2.99 ₽227

300.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₽410

$4.81 ₽366

12.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ₽832

$5.05 ₽384

116.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₽127

$1.82 ₽138

-8.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽141

$1.77 ₽134

4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 ₽152

$2.80 ₽213

-28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 ₽268

$1.91 ₽145

84.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 ₽63.9

$0.82 ₽62.2

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 ₽51.9

$0.49 ₽36.98

38.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 ₽99.6

$2.48 ₽189

-47.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₽56.0

$0.60 ₽45.39

23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 ₽218

$3.23 ₽245

-11.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.04 ₽687

$8.61 ₽655

4.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₽76.5

$1.00 ₽76.3

1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₽157

$1.86 ₽142

11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 ₽70.1

$0.42 ₽32.02

119.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.5 ₽4,070

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 ₽217

$2.23 ₽170

27.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₽42.43

$0.22 ₽16.69

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 ₽583

$6.50 ₽494

17.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽57.7

$0.71 ₽53.9

7.04%

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

$37.7K ₽2.9M

$35.5K ₽2.7M

6.25%

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

$37.8K ₽2.9M

$30.0K ₽2.3M

26.18%

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

$131 ₽9,997

$54.3 ₽4,130

142.10%

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

$7.03 ₽535

$6.32 ₽481

11.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.42 ₽564

$9.94 ₽756

-25.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.75 ₽2,871

$47.60 ₽3,620

-20.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.01 ₽1,750

Cinema Ticket

$5.58 ₽425

$5.02 ₽382

11.16%

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

$400 ₽30.4K

$169 ₽12.9K

136.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,770 ₽743.0K

$6,894 ₽524.3K

41.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 ₽7,640

$103 ₽7,818

-2.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.0 ₽4,106

$44.15 ₽3,358

22.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₽8,949

$104 ₽7,877

13.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$136 ₽10.3K

$145 ₽11.1K

-6.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 ₽60.5K

$498 ₽37.9K

59.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 ₽36.2K

$304 ₽23.1K

56.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,421 ₽108.1K

$700 ₽53.2K

103.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$915 ₽69.6K

$411 ₽31.3K

122.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,533 ₽344.8K

$1,683 ₽128.0K

169.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,834 ₽215.6K

$1,217 ₽92.6K

132.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,247 ₽94.9K

$621 ₽47.3K

100.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.95

11.33

120.21%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 13, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Saint Petersburg versus $498 in Makhachkala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 101% higher in Saint Petersburg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Saint Petersburg versus $39 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $168 – making Makhachkala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Petersburg is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,897 per month in Saint Petersburg and $1,448 in Makhachkala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Saint Petersburg and $966 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $400 per month in Saint Petersburg and $169 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,265. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Petersburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Petersburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.