😐A single person spends $1,310 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $940 in Perm, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,068 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $1,514 in Perm, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,826 per month in Saint Petersburg vs $2,087 in Perm, rent included.
😐Saint Petersburg costs about 39% more than Perm, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Saint Petersburg and Perm are more affordable than the global median – Saint Petersburg4% lower, Perm31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.09₽929
$9.67₽809
14.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.39₽3,550
$32.70₽2,738
29.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11₽512
$5.38₽451
13.57%
Cappuccino
$3.01₽252
$2.07₽173
45.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42₽119
$0.96₽80.7
47.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63₽53.1
$0.52₽43.72
21.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95₽247
$1.12₽93.4
163.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22₽270
$1.85₽155
74.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10₽92.5
$1.04₽87.5
5.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89₽74.5
$0.74₽62.4
20.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65₽138
$1.34₽113
23.13%
Eggs
$1.63₽137
$1.37₽115
18.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49₽1,046
$8.58₽719
45.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24₽522
$4.89₽409
27.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.34₽1,034
$11.15₽934
10.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86₽156
$1.98₽166
-6.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72₽144
$1.72₽144
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79₽150
$1.79₽150
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.15₽264
$2.37₽198
32.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81₽67.5
$0.78₽65.2
3.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.61₽51.0
$0.63₽52.6
-3.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30₽109
$0.99₽82.6
31.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₽64.7
$0.83₽69.5
-7.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98₽250
$2.70₽226
10.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.31₽696
$9.28₽777
-10.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₽97.0
$0.76₽64.0
52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89₽158
$1.53₽128
23.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02₽85.4
$0.46₽38.57
121.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.7₽4,580
$24.35₽2,039
124.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08₽258
$2.67₽224
15.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₽62.4
$0.44₽36.50
68.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.53₽714
$4.75₽398
79.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90₽75.4
$0.81₽68.2
11.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K₽3.1M
$33.8K₽2.8M
10.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K₽2.8M
$35.7K₽3.0M
-7.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138₽11.6K
$105₽8,783
31.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.31₽612
$5.49₽460
33.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.17₽685
$8.76₽734
-6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.48₽3,641
$27.74₽2,323
56.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.61₽2,647
$13.99₽1,172
125.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.95₽499
$5.91₽495
0.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$407₽34.1K
$246₽20.6K
65.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K₽1.3M
$4,438₽371.6K
243.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.2₽7,804
$60.4₽5,058
54.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5₽4,308
$33.92₽2,840
51.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$146₽12.2K
$97.6₽8,169
49.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124₽10.3K
$93.2₽7,800
32.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$768₽64.4K
$518₽43.4K
48.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$454₽38.0K
$293₽24.6K
54.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628₽136.3K
$753₽63.0K
116.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$945₽79.1K
$637₽53.3K
48.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,382₽367.0K
$2,345₽196.4K
86.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,794₽234.0K
$1,500₽125.6K
86.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Petersburg
Perm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,165₽97.5K
$873₽73.1K
33.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20.41
23.33
-12.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Petersburg: August 16, 2026
Last update for Perm: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $768 in Saint Petersburg versus $518 in Perm. 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 33% 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 $42.00 in Saint Petersburg versus $33.00 in Perm. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $195 – making Perm 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 Perm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perm cheaper than Saint Petersburg?
Yes – Saint Petersburg is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,965 per month in Saint Petersburg and $1,410 in Perm. 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 Perm, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Saint Petersburg and in Perm?
Groceries cost about 16% 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 eating out cheaper in Saint Petersburg or in Perm?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Saint Petersburg and $33.00 in Perm. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Saint Petersburg or in Perm?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perm, where all-in costs run around $940, than in Saint Petersburg at $1,310. In Perm it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Petersburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint Petersburg or Perm more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Perm – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Saint Petersburg or Perm?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Perm. 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