Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Petersburg and Yaroslavl Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint Petersburg and Yaroslavl

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,302 in Saint Petersburg versus $859 in Yaroslavl.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,049 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,307 in Yaroslavl.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,796 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,755 in Yaroslavl.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 52% more expensive than Yaroslavl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 3% lower, Yaroslavl 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.60 ₽709

$8.48 ₽626

13.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.48 ₽3,651

$31.14 ₽2,298

58.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ₽417

$6.11 ₽451

-7.53%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₽192

$2.13 ₽157

22.07%

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

$1.07 ₽79.3

$0.95 ₽70.4

12.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽45.21

$0.34 ₽25.19

79.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 ₽238

$1.67 ₽123

92.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 ₽284

$1.61 ₽119

139.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 ₽86.0

$1.06 ₽77.9

9.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽70.9

$0.58 ₽42.88

65.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽120

$1.25 ₽92.4

29.60%

Eggs

$1.86 ₽137

$1.30 ₽96.1

43.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.44 ₽918

$7.32 ₽540

69.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.24 ₽387

$4.25 ₽314

23.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 ₽801

$7.34 ₽542

47.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 ₽124

$1.78 ₽132

-5.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 ₽137

$1.92 ₽142

-3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 ₽142

$2.02 ₽149

-4.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₽256

$3.76 ₽278

-7.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 ₽65.4

$0.99 ₽73.1

-10.10%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 ₽47.76

$0.81 ₽59.5

-19.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 ₽95.7

$0.24 ₽17.61

441.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 ₽53.9

$0.76 ₽56.1

-3.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ₽223

$2.50 ₽184

21.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.85 ₽727

$8.60 ₽635

14.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₽77.6

$0.74 ₽54.6

41.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₽152

$1.54 ₽113

33.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 ₽63.1

$0.50 ₽36.59

72.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.4 ₽3,865

$22.34 ₽1,648

134.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 ₽209

$2.56 ₽189

10.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₽41.05

$0.22 ₽16.20

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 ₽558

$7.89 ₽582

-4.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₽54.4

$0.71 ₽52.7

4.23%

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

$37.9K ₽2.8M

$38.6K ₽2.8M

-1.73%

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

$37.7K ₽2.8M

$25.2K ₽1.9M

49.63%

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

$134 ₽9,868

$97.3 ₽7,182

37.40%

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

$6.66 ₽491

$3.09 ₽228

115.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.06 ₽521

$5.67 ₽418

24.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.57 ₽2,772

$24.12 ₽1,780

55.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.95 ₽1,694

$12.86 ₽949

78.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₽434

$4.41 ₽325

33.33%

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

$403 ₽29.7K

$257 ₽19.0K

56.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,670 ₽713.6K

$14.9K ₽1.1M

-35.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.5 ₽7,267

$48.25 ₽3,560

104.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.4 ₽3,938

$50.6 ₽3,730

5.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ₽8,448

$131 ₽9,657

-12.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₽9,954

$125 ₽9,199

8.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 ₽58.6K

$327 ₽24.1K

142.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 ₽34.7K

$232 ₽17.1K

102.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,417 ₽104.5K

$642 ₽47.4K

120.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$899 ₽66.4K

$347 ₽25.6K

159.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,914 ₽362.6K

$2,565 ₽189.3K

91.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,083 ₽227.5K

$1,299 ₽95.8K

137.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,319 ₽97.3K

$978 ₽72.2K

34.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

24.95

14.48

72.31%

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

Last update for Saint Petersburg: May 30, 2026

Last update for Yaroslavl: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Saint Petersburg and $327 in Yaroslavl. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 35% 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 $31.00 in Yaroslavl for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $178 per month, with Yaroslavl 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 Yaroslavl: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yaroslavl wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yaroslavl the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Saint Petersburg pays 35% 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 $327 in Yaroslavl. 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 $859 in Yaroslavl – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Yaroslavl runs roughly 134% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $859 in Yaroslavl versus $1,302 in Saint Petersburg, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yaroslavl but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Yaroslavl the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Yaroslavl delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $859 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Yaroslavl hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Saint Petersburg and Yaroslavl 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 Yaroslavl gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.