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: $1,303 in Saint Petersburg versus $880 in Yaroslavl.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,014 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,315 in Yaroslavl.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,726 in Saint Petersburg versus $1,750 in Yaroslavl.

Living in Saint Petersburg is roughly 48% more expensive than in Yaroslavl, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Saint Petersburg 2% lower, Yaroslavl 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.56 ₽751

$8.24 ₽647

16.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.36 ₽3,877

$31.44 ₽2,470

57.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 ₽447

$6.08 ₽478

-6.58%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₽214

$2.03 ₽160

33.99%

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

$1.07 ₽84.1

$1.01 ₽79.1

5.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₽45.00

$0.32 ₽25.00

78.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 ₽247

$1.73 ₽136

81.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ₽292

$1.63 ₽128

127.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 ₽92.5

$1.07 ₽84.0

10.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₽75.6

$0.59 ₽46.09

62.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ₽128

$1.21 ₽94.8

33.88%

Eggs

$1.84 ₽145

$1.31 ₽103

40.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.14 ₽953

$7.02 ₽551

72.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 ₽422

$4.28 ₽337

25.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ₽859

$7.26 ₽571

50.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 ₽138

$1.69 ₽133

4.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 ₽143

$1.92 ₽151

-5.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ₽152

$1.97 ₽155

-1.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₽273

$3.72 ₽292

-6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 ₽68.7

$0.99 ₽78.0

-12.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 ₽49.44

$0.84 ₽65.7

-25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 ₽107

$0.26 ₽20.55

423.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₽56.9

$0.75 ₽58.9

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 ₽226

$2.51 ₽197

14.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.41 ₽739

$8.36 ₽657

12.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ₽78.8

$0.76 ₽59.6

31.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₽159

$1.53 ₽120

32.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ₽68.4

$0.50 ₽38.94

74.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.4 ₽4,198

$22.49 ₽1,767

137.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 ₽215

$2.56 ₽201

7.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₽45.69

$0.22 ₽17.27

163.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.80 ₽613

$7.93 ₽623

-1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₽61.7

$0.76 ₽59.4

3.95%

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

$37.5K ₽2.9M

$38.3K ₽3.0M

-2.13%

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

$37.1K ₽2.9M

$25.4K ₽2.0M

46.23%

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

$135 ₽10.6K

$99.8 ₽7,839

34.88%

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

$6.73 ₽528

$3.24 ₽255

107.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.34 ₽577

$5.83 ₽458

25.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.42 ₽2,940

$23.86 ₽1,874

56.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.89 ₽1,798

$12.76 ₽1,002

79.39%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ₽450

$4.56 ₽359

25.66%

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

$403 ₽31.7K

$261 ₽20.5K

54.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,480 ₽744.8K

$14.7K ₽1.2M

-35.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$99.7 ₽7,832

$47.53 ₽3,734

109.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₽4,314

$51.3 ₽4,030

7.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ₽9,134

$133 ₽10.4K

-12.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 ₽10.8K

$125 ₽9,803

9.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 ₽63.0K

$321 ₽25.2K

149.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 ₽36.9K

$231 ₽18.2K

103.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,441 ₽113.2K

$642 ₽50.4K

124.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$884 ₽69.5K

$345 ₽27.1K

155.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,616 ₽362.6K

$2,468 ₽193.9K

87.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,978 ₽233.9K

$1,202 ₽94.4K

147.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,220 ₽95.9K

$917 ₽72.0K

33.10%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Yaroslavl: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Saint Petersburg and $321 in Yaroslavl. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 33% 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 $222 vs $176 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 48% 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.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $803 in Saint Petersburg versus $321 in Yaroslavl. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,303 per month in Saint Petersburg versus $880 in Yaroslavl – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Yaroslavl runs roughly 138% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $880 in Yaroslavl versus $1,303 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 $880 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 48% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.