Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Saint Petersburg versus $791 in Veliky Novgorod.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,032 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,333 in Veliky Novgorod.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,791 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,875 in Veliky Novgorod.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 61% more expensive than in Veliky Novgorod, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 7% lower, Veliky Novgorod 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.85 ₽931

$9.99 ₽857

8.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.15 ₽3,531

$39.90 ₽3,424

3.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₽525

$5.16 ₽443

18.60%

Cappuccino

$3.01 ₽258

$2.14 ₽184

40.65%

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

$1.34 ₽115

$1.35 ₽116

-0.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₽54.6

$0.51 ₽43.75

25.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ₽201

$1.37 ₽117

71.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ₽247

$2.00 ₽172

44.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 ₽93.9

$1.10 ₽94.5

-0.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₽74.3

$0.71 ₽61.2

22.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽139

$1.63 ₽140

-0.61%

Eggs

$1.57 ₽135

$1.27 ₽109

23.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.58 ₽994

$10.56 ₽906

9.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 ₽515

$5.81 ₽499

3.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 ₽980

$5.94 ₽510

92.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ₽146

$1.48 ₽127

14.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 ₽133

$1.56 ₽134

-0.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 ₽154

$1.74 ₽149

2.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.02 ₽259

$3.14 ₽270

-3.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 ₽64.3

$0.72 ₽61.7

4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 ₽49.79

$0.61 ₽52.3

-4.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ₽108

$1.30 ₽111

-3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₽67.3

$0.77 ₽65.8

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ₽253

$2.95 ₽254

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 ₽766

$5.71 ₽490

56.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₽91.7

$0.68 ₽58.4

57.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ₽162

$0.95 ₽81.4

97.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 ₽84.6

$0.54 ₽46.26

83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.7 ₽4,437

$32.61 ₽2,798

58.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₽223

$1.70 ₽146

52.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 ₽61.4

$0.19 ₽16.42

273.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.39 ₽720

$3.51 ₽301

139.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₽70.0

$0.82 ₽70.5

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

$34.2K ₽2.9M

$17.5K ₽1.5M

94.94%

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

$32.7K ₽2.8M

$33.0K ₽2.8M

-0.95%

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

$140 ₽12.0K

$43.69 ₽3,749

219.30%

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

$7.37 ₽632

$5.10 ₽438

44.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.80 ₽669

$5.66 ₽485

37.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.54 ₽3,565

$30.98 ₽2,659

34.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.98 ₽3,002

$20.87 ₽1,791

67.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 ₽583

$5.10 ₽438

33.14%

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

$441 ₽37.9K

$428 ₽36.7K

3.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ₽1.2M

$14.6K ₽1.3M

-0.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$86.7 ₽7,436

$35.23 ₽3,023

145.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.99 ₽4,290

$29.51 ₽2,533

69.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 ₽11.5K

$97.8 ₽8,394

36.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 ₽10.3K

$68.7 ₽5,892

75.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 ₽62.6K

$318 ₽27.3K

129.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 ₽37.2K

$228 ₽19.5K

90.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 ₽135.6K

$643 ₽55.1K

145.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$881 ₽75.6K

$469 ₽40.2K

87.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,190 ₽359.5K

$1,435 ₽123.2K

191.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,662 ₽228.4K

$1,139 ₽97.8K

133.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,109 ₽95.2K

$699 ₽59.9K

58.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.04

19.5

2.77%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: August 31, 2026

Last update for Veliky Novgorod: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Saint Petersburg and $318 in Veliky Novgorod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 59% 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: $41.00 in Saint Petersburg vs $40.00 in Veliky Novgorod for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $182 per month, with Veliky Novgorod cheaper across the board.

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 Veliky Novgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Veliky Novgorod wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Veliky Novgorod the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Saint Petersburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Saint Petersburg versus $318 in Veliky Novgorod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,273 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $791 in Veliky Novgorod – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Veliky Novgorod runs roughly 59% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $791 in Veliky Novgorod versus $1,273 in Saint Petersburg, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Veliky Novgorod but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Veliky Novgorod the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Veliky Novgorod delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $791 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Veliky Novgorod hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Saint Petersburg and Veliky Novgorod are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Veliky Novgorod gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.