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 $1,273 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $684 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,032 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,163 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,791 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,641 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Saint Petersburg costs about 86% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Saint Petersburg and Makhachkala are more affordable than the global median – Saint Petersburg 7% lower, Makhachkala 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₽931

$11.61 ₽997

-6.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ₽3,531

$34.70 ₽2,978

18.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₽525

$4.56 ₽392

34.21%

Cappuccino

$3.01 ₽258

$2.68 ₽230

12.31%

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

$1.34 ₽115

$0.73 ₽62.7

83.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.32 ₽27.54

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₽201

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₽247

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽93.9

$1.32 ₽113

-17.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₽74.3

$0.48 ₽41.40

81.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽139

$1.17 ₽100

38.46%

Eggs

$1.57 ₽135

$1.58 ₽135

-0.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 ₽994

$8.36 ₽717

38.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 ₽515

$6.07 ₽521

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 ₽980

$7.82 ₽671

46.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ₽146

$1.21 ₽104

40.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₽133

$1.79 ₽154

-13.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₽154

$2.14 ₽183

-16.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 ₽259

$2.96 ₽254

2.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₽64.3

$0.81 ₽69.8

-7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₽49.79

$0.41 ₽35.33

41.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ₽108

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽67.3

$0.88 ₽75.5

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₽253

$2.92 ₽250

1.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 ₽766

$3.50 ₽301

155.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₽91.7

$0.48 ₽41.40

122.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽162

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ₽84.6

$0.36 ₽30.49

175.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.7 ₽4,437

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₽223

$2.29 ₽197

13.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₽61.4

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 ₽720

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽70.0

$0.76 ₽65.4

7.89%

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

$34.2K ₽2.9M

$32.0K ₽2.7M

6.98%

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

$32.7K ₽2.8M

$28.0K ₽2.4M

16.86%

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

$140 ₽12.0K

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

$7.37 ₽632

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.80 ₽669

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 ₽3,565

$53.4 ₽4,584

-22.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.98 ₽3,002

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 ₽583

$4.65 ₽399

46.02%

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

$441 ₽37.9K

$208 ₽17.9K

112.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₽7,436

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.99 ₽4,290

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽11.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₽10.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₽62.6K

$380 ₽32.6K

92.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₽37.2K

$286 ₽24.5K

51.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₽135.6K

$829 ₽71.2K

90.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$881 ₽75.6K

$648 ₽55.6K

35.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 ₽359.5K

$1,494 ₽128.2K

180.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₽228.4K

$1,050 ₽90.1K

153.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ₽95.2K

$595 ₽51.0K

86.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.04

11.33%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: August 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Saint Petersburg versus $380 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 86% 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 $41.00 in Saint Petersburg versus $35.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $171 – 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 86%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Saint Petersburg and $1,026 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 $1,273 in Saint Petersburg and $684 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $441 per month in Saint Petersburg and $208 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 $684, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,273. 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.