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 $1,302 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,049 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,796 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Saint Petersburg costs about 33% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint Petersburg and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Saint Petersburg 3% lower, Makhachkala 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 ₽705

$15.31 ₽1,125

-37.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 ₽3,635

$38.77 ₽2,848

27.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ₽415

$5.20 ₽382

8.65%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₽191

$3.12 ₽229

-16.67%

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

$1.07 ₽78.9

$0.84 ₽62.0

27.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽45.01

$0.35 ₽25.81

74.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 ₽237

$1.36 ₽99.6

136.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 ₽283

$2.50 ₽184

54.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₽85.6

$1.51 ₽111

-23.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽70.6

$0.60 ₽44.23

60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽119

$1.38 ₽101

17.39%

Eggs

$1.86 ₽136

$1.37 ₽101

35.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.44 ₽914

$2.97 ₽218

318.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₽385

$4.80 ₽353

9.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ₽797

$4.92 ₽361

120.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ₽123

$1.74 ₽128

-3.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽136

$1.75 ₽129

5.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽142

$2.72 ₽200

-29.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₽255

$1.89 ₽139

83.60%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ₽65.1

$0.88 ₽64.5

1.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₽47.55

$0.49 ₽35.84

32.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₽95.2

$2.36 ₽173

-44.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.7

$0.59 ₽43.05

23.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₽222

$3.19 ₽234

-5.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 ₽723

$4.22 ₽310

133.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₽77.2

$1.04 ₽76.4

0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₽151

$1.85 ₽136

11.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽62.8

$0.43 ₽31.44

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.4 ₽3,848

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 ₽208

$2.22 ₽163

27.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₽40.87

$0.21 ₽15.53

166.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 ₽556

$6.18 ₽454

22.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽54.1

$0.70 ₽51.3

5.71%

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

$37.9K ₽2.8M

$35.3K ₽2.6M

7.41%

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

$37.7K ₽2.8M

$30.3K ₽2.2M

24.57%

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

$134 ₽9,824

$54.9 ₽4,033

143.59%

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

$6.66 ₽489

$6.13 ₽450

8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.06 ₽519

$9.84 ₽723

-28.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.57 ₽2,760

$46.58 ₽3,421

-19.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.95 ₽1,686

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₽432

$5.02 ₽369

17.13%

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

$403 ₽29.6K

$166 ₽12.2K

142.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,670 ₽710.4K

$7,077 ₽519.9K

36.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 ₽7,234

$106 ₽7,777

-6.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 ₽3,920

$44.24 ₽3,250

20.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,410

$105 ₽7,704

9.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₽9,910

$145 ₽10.7K

-6.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₽58.3K

$501 ₽36.8K

58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 ₽34.6K

$305 ₽22.4K

54.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 ₽104.1K

$698 ₽51.2K

103.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₽66.1K

$399 ₽29.3K

125.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,914 ₽361.0K

$1,789 ₽131.4K

174.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,083 ₽226.5K

$1,289 ₽94.7K

139.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,319 ₽96.9K

$860 ₽63.1K

53.43%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $794 in Saint Petersburg versus $501 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 53% 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 $49.00 in Saint Petersburg versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $157 – 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 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in Saint Petersburg and $1,468 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 $1,302 in Saint Petersburg and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $403 per month in Saint Petersburg and $166 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 $979, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,302. 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.