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: $1,302 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,049 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,649 in Veliky Novgorod.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,796 in Saint Petersburg versus $2,219 in Veliky Novgorod.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 21% more expensive than Veliky Novgorod, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 3% lower, Veliky Novgorod 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 ₽701

$9.63 ₽703

-0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 ₽3,612

$48.93 ₽3,571

1.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ₽413

$5.75 ₽420

-1.74%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₽189

$2.58 ₽188

0.78%

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

$1.07 ₽78.4

$1.09 ₽79.2

-1.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽44.72

$0.59 ₽42.78

3.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 ₽235

$1.87 ₽137

72.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 ₽281

$2.61 ₽191

47.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₽85.0

$1.16 ₽84.8

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽70.2

$0.88 ₽63.9

9.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽118

$1.58 ₽115

2.53%

Eggs

$1.86 ₽136

$1.85 ₽135

0.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.44 ₽908

$12.25 ₽894

1.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₽383

$3.87 ₽282

35.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ₽792

$10.67 ₽779

1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ₽122

$1.68 ₽123

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽135

$1.29 ₽93.9

43.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽141

$1.98 ₽144

-2.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₽253

$3.34 ₽244

3.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ₽64.7

$0.88 ₽64.2

1.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₽47.25

$0.68 ₽49.53

-4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₽94.6

$1.30 ₽94.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.3

$0.77 ₽56.5

-5.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₽221

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 ₽719

$6.80 ₽496

44.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₽76.7

$1.06 ₽77.3

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₽150

$2.03 ₽148

1.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽62.4

$0.48 ₽35.23

79.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.4 ₽3,824

$36.05 ₽2,631

45.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 ₽207

$1.26 ₽91.6

124.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₽40.60

$0.56 ₽40.68

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 ₽552

$7.72 ₽564

-2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽53.8

$0.75 ₽54.7

-1.33%

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

$37.9K ₽2.8M

$37.6K ₽2.7M

0.71%

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

$37.7K ₽2.8M

$36.8K ₽2.7M

2.30%

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

$134 ₽9,761

$130 ₽9,517

2.56%

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

$6.66 ₽486

$6.78 ₽495

-1.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.06 ₽515

$7.09 ₽517

-0.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.57 ₽2,742

$31.59 ₽2,306

18.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.95 ₽1,675

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₽429

$5.59 ₽408

5.19%

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

$403 ₽29.4K

$399 ₽29.1K

0.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,670 ₽705.8K

$9,491 ₽692.7K

1.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 ₽7,188

$98.5 ₽7,186

0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 ₽3,895

$53.6 ₽3,910

-0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,356

$117 ₽8,565

-2.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₽9,846

$133 ₽9,736

1.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₽58.0K

$451 ₽32.9K

76.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 ₽34.3K

$306 ₽22.3K

53.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 ₽103.4K

$757 ₽55.2K

87.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₽65.6K

$518 ₽37.8K

73.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,914 ₽358.7K

$1,713 ₽125.1K

186.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,083 ₽225.0K

$1,359 ₽99.2K

126.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,319 ₽96.3K

$834 ₽60.8K

58.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.95

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: May 30, 2026

Last update for Veliky Novgorod: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Saint Petersburg and $451 in Veliky Novgorod. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 58% 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: $49.00 in Saint Petersburg vs $49.00 in Veliky Novgorod. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $204, with Veliky Novgorod 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 Veliky Novgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Veliky Novgorod wins on cost – living expenses run 21% 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.

Saint Petersburg pays 58% more on average, 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: $794 in Saint Petersburg versus $451 in Veliky Novgorod. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,302 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Veliky Novgorod runs roughly 45% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,079 in Veliky Novgorod versus $1,302 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 $1,079 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 21% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.