😐A single person spends $1,308 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $982 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,048 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,499 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,788 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $2,016 in Novoshakhtinsk, rent included.
😐Saint Petersburg costs about 33% more than Novoshakhtinsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Saint Petersburg and Novoshakhtinsk are more affordable than the global median – Saint Petersburg2% lower, Novoshakhtinsk27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.46₽711
$9.32₽700
1.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.63₽3,728
$38.57₽2,897
28.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67₽426
$5.78₽434
-1.90%
Cappuccino
$2.57₽193
$2.34₽176
9.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₽81.5
$1.08₽81.3
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₽43.63
$0.48₽36.39
20.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09₽232
$1.36₽102
127.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90₽293
$2.51₽189
55.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17₽88.1
$1.15₽86.5
1.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96₽71.8
$0.70₽52.6
37.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61₽121
$1.41₽106
14.18%
Eggs
$1.85₽139
$1.74₽130
6.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.38₽930
$10.70₽803
15.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44₽408
$5.00₽376
8.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.62₽797
$8.83₽664
20.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75₽131
$1.72₽129
1.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85₽139
$1.90₽142
-2.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98₽149
$1.96₽147
1.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50₽263
$2.65₽199
32.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₽63.0
$0.79₽59.5
6.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₽48.13
$0.72₽54.3
-11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₽102
$1.42₽107
-4.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75₽56.1
$0.71₽53.2
5.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91₽219
$2.87₽216
1.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.57₽719
$7.77₽584
23.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₽76.2
$0.96₽72.4
6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05₽154
$1.94₽146
5.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90₽67.9
$0.50₽37.44
80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.5₽4,016
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87₽216
$1.93₽145
48.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₽44.66
$0.33₽24.78
78.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70₽578
$6.19₽465
24.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽56.7
$0.79₽59.0
-5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K₽2.9M
$34.0K₽2.6M
14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K₽2.8M
$35.8K₽2.7M
3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132₽9,879
$108₽8,096
22.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.70₽503
$5.98₽449
12.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.34₽551
$7.84₽589
-6.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.88₽2,770
$34.96₽2,626
5.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04₽1,730
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.84₽439
$5.22₽392
11.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$397₽29.8K
$326₽24.5K
21.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,653₽725.0K
$7,065₽530.6K
36.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2₽7,449
$69.7₽5,231
42.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8₽4,115
$44.34₽3,331
23.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₽8,789
$116₽8,745
0.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133₽9,955
$107₽8,056
23.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784₽58.9K
$439₽33.0K
78.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459₽34.5K
$305₽22.9K
50.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442₽108.3K
$773₽58.1K
86.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907₽68.2K
$516₽38.8K
75.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,548₽341.6K
$1,879₽141.1K
142.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,919₽219.2K
$1,601₽120.2K
82.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Petersburg
Novoshakhtinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,261₽94.7K
-
-
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 Novoshakhtinsk: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $784 in Saint Petersburg versus $439 in Novoshakhtinsk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Saint Petersburg versus $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $198 – making Novoshakhtinsk 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 Novoshakhtinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novoshakhtinsk cheaper than Saint Petersburg?
Yes – Saint Petersburg is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,961 per month in Saint Petersburg and $1,473 in Novoshakhtinsk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novoshakhtinsk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint Petersburg or Novoshakhtinsk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Saint Petersburg and $39.00 in Novoshakhtinsk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Saint Petersburg and Novoshakhtinsk?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Saint Petersburg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Saint Petersburg or Novoshakhtinsk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novoshakhtinsk, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,308. In Novoshakhtinsk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Petersburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint Petersburg or Novoshakhtinsk more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novoshakhtinsk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Novoshakhtinsk. 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.
Saint Petersburg vs other spots: cost of living compared