😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,308 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,117 in Tula.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,048 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,752 in Tula.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,788 in Saint Petersburg versus $2,386 in Tula.
😐Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 17% more expensive than Tula, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg2% lower, Tula17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.46₽711
$12.78₽960
-25.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.63₽3,728
$56.7₽4,259
-12.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67₽426
$6.49₽487
-12.63%
Cappuccino
$2.57₽193
$1.97₽148
30.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₽81.5
$1.44₽108
-25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₽43.63
$0.64₽47.97
-9.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09₽232
$2.00₽150
54.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90₽293
$3.09₽232
26.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17₽88.1
$1.28₽96.2
-8.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96₽71.8
$0.65₽48.90
47.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61₽121
$1.68₽126
-4.17%
Eggs
$1.85₽139
$1.91₽143
-3.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.38₽930
$12.72₽955
-2.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44₽408
$5.31₽399
2.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.62₽797
$5.34₽401
98.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75₽131
$1.94₽146
-9.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85₽139
$2.11₽159
-12.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98₽149
$1.87₽140
5.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.50₽263
$2.74₽206
27.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84₽63.0
$0.99₽74.0
-15.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₽48.13
$0.78₽58.8
-17.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36₽102
$1.64₽123
-17.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75₽56.1
$0.81₽60.6
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91₽219
$2.49₽187
16.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.57₽719
$8.09₽608
18.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02₽76.2
$1.03₽77.5
-0.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05₽154
$1.05₽78.5
95.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90₽67.9
$0.48₽35.79
87.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.5₽4,016
$17.97₽1,350
197.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87₽216
$1.36₽102
111.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₽44.66
$0.30₽22.41
96.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70₽578
$8.01₽601
-3.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽56.7
$0.76₽56.8
-1.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K₽2.9M
$23.2K₽1.7M
67.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K₽2.8M
$30.3K₽2.3M
22.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132₽9,879
$152₽11.5K
-13.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.70₽503
$8.03₽603
-16.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.34₽551
$7.97₽598
-7.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.88₽2,770
$16.95₽1,273
117.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.04₽1,730
$19.44₽1,460
18.52%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84₽439
$6.28₽472
-7.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$397₽29.8K
$712₽53.5K
-44.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,653₽725.0K
$14.6K₽1.1M
-33.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2₽7,449
$88.8₽6,671
11.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8₽4,115
$52.2₽3,917
5.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117₽8,789
$131₽9,825
-10.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133₽9,955
$161₽12.1K
-17.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784₽58.9K
$385₽28.9K
103.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$459₽34.5K
$317₽23.8K
45.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442₽108.3K
$707₽53.1K
104.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907₽68.2K
$576₽43.3K
57.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,548₽341.6K
$1,993₽149.7K
128.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,919₽219.2K
$1,186₽89.1K
146.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Petersburg
Tula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,261₽94.7K
$1,015₽76.2K
24.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.95
14.86
67.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tula: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $784 in Saint Petersburg and $385 in Tula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Petersburg pays 24% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Saint Petersburg vs $57.0 in Tula. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $202, with Tula cheaper for home cooking.
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 Tula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saint Petersburg or Tula?
Tula wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tula the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Saint Petersburg or Tula?
Saint Petersburg pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Saint Petersburg vs Tula?
Rent for a central apartment: $784 in Saint Petersburg versus $385 in Tula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Saint Petersburg compared to Tula?
All in, you'll spend $1,308 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $1,117 in Tula – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Saint Petersburg vs Tula?
A monthly transit pass in Tula runs roughly 198% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Saint Petersburg or Tula?
At $1,117 in Tula versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tula but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Tula the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saint Petersburg or Tula?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tula delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,117 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tula hard to pass up.
How safe is Saint Petersburg compared to Tula?
Safety-wise, Saint Petersburg and Tula are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint Petersburg vs other spots: cost of living compared