🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $951 in Stary Oskol versus $994 in Novosibirsk.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,488 in Stary Oskol versus $1,617 in Novosibirsk.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,025 in Stary Oskol versus $2,241 in Novosibirsk.
🌍Living in Stary Oskol costs roughly 4% less than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Stary Oskol29% lower, Novosibirsk25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.49₽757
$7.70₽615
23.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.55₽2,995
$37.77₽3,013
-0.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.57₽444
$5.11₽408
9.00%
Cappuccino
$2.37₽189
$2.84₽227
-16.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09₽86.8
$1.34₽107
-18.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52₽41.71
$0.81₽64.8
-35.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37₽109
$2.49₽199
-44.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53₽202
$3.83₽305
-33.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15₽91.7
$1.05₽83.4
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69₽55.3
$0.60₽47.96
15.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43₽114
$1.60₽128
-10.63%
Eggs
$1.73₽138
$1.79₽142
-3.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.91₽870
$11.02₽879
-1.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79₽382
$5.11₽408
-6.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.69₽693
$10.27₽819
-15.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74₽139
$2.00₽160
-13.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89₽151
$1.92₽153
-1.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99₽159
$1.92₽153
3.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65₽212
$3.38₽270
-21.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79₽63.0
$0.79₽63.0
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.70₽56.0
$0.66₽52.9
6.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34₽107
$1.09₽86.6
22.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽57.5
$0.68₽53.9
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88₽230
$3.07₽245
-6.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.81₽464
$9.52₽759
-38.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95₽75.5
$0.92₽73.6
3.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89₽151
$2.07₽165
-8.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽39.40
$0.53₽42.00
-7.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$31.63₽2,523
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.85₽148
$1.95₽156
-5.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽26.19
$0.27₽21.64
22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.38₽509
$3.72₽297
71.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78₽62.1
$0.75₽59.7
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K₽2.7M
$55.6K₽4.4M
-38.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K₽2.9M
$26.2K₽2.1M
38.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₽8,821
$108₽8,606
2.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.04₽482
$5.36₽428
12.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.74₽617
$8.62₽688
-10.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.73₽2,850
$59.4₽4,741
-39.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$24.96₽1,991
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.13₽409
$6.09₽486
-15.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319₽25.5K
$347₽27.7K
-8.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,983₽557.0K
$4,719₽376.4K
47.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6₽5,474
$69.4₽5,540
-1.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.72₽3,568
$39.14₽3,122
14.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113₽9,020
$95.8₽7,641
18.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108₽8,655
$78.5₽6,262
38.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451₽35.9K
$475₽37.9K
-5.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309₽24.6K
$307₽24.5K
0.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760₽60.6K
$830₽66.2K
-8.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515₽41.1K
$637₽50.8K
-19.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,580₽205.8K
$2,715₽216.6K
-4.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,666₽132.9K
$1,744₽139.1K
-4.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stary Oskol
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$833₽66.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
17.38
-11.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stary Oskol: July 25, 2026
Last update for Novosibirsk: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Stary Oskol and $475 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Stary Oskol vs $38.00 in Novosibirsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $209 per month, with Stary Oskol 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
Stary Oskol vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novosibirsk cheaper than Stary Oskol?
Stary Oskol is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,426 in Stary Oskol and $1,491 in Novosibirsk to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Stary Oskol and Novosibirsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Stary Oskol versus $475 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Stary Oskol and in Novosibirsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Stary Oskol and in Novosibirsk?
All in, you'll spend $951 per month in Stary Oskol versus $994 in Novosibirsk – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Stary Oskol or in Novosibirsk?
At $951 in Stary Oskol versus $994 in Novosibirsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Stary Oskol but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Stary Oskol the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Stary Oskol or in Novosibirsk?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Stary Oskol gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Stary Oskol vs other spots: cost of living compared