😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Szczecin versus $898 in Volgograd.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,007 in Szczecin versus $1,485 in Volgograd.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,606 in Szczecin versus $2,071 in Volgograd.
😐Living in Szczecin is roughly 57% more expensive than Volgograd, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szczecin is 5% above, Volgograd is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.33zł 34.08
$10.21₽754
-8.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.78zł 182
$38.37₽2,832
29.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76zł 31.98
$5.13₽379
70.76%
Cappuccino
$3.33zł 12.15
$1.87₽138
78.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86zł 6.81
$1.81₽134
2.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41zł 5.16
$0.74₽54.5
90.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.32zł 12.13
$2.60₽192
27.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18zł 11.62
$5.79₽427
-45.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96zł 3.51
$1.20₽88.5
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28zł 4.68
$0.69₽50.8
85.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99zł 3.60
$1.80₽133
-45.00%
Eggs
$3.34zł 12.18
$1.67₽123
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64zł 35.22
$12.43₽917
-22.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39zł 23.33
$5.44₽401
17.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.30zł 48.58
$7.97₽588
66.88%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.26
$1.91₽141
-53.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.50
$1.68₽124
5.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39zł 5.09
$3.18₽235
-56.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18zł 7.97
$2.73₽202
-20.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89zł 3.24
$0.75₽55.2
18.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07zł 3.90
$0.74₽54.9
44.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03zł 3.77
$1.87₽138
-44.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60zł 2.20
$0.62₽45.46
-3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.32zł 19.44
$2.56₽189
107.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03zł 25.67
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14zł 4.15
$0.75₽55.2
52.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47zł 5.38
$2.47₽182
-40.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82zł 3.01
$0.43₽31.36
90.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.10zł 99.0
$12.79₽944
111.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.20zł 8.04
$2.46₽181
-10.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97zł 3.55
$0.35₽26.12
177.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.44zł 49.09
$6.33₽467
112.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67zł 6.10
$0.86₽63.7
94.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7Kzł 119.6K
$33.7K₽2.5M
-2.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kzł 112.2K
$35.5K₽2.6M
-13.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$253zł 924
$90.0₽6,641
180.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.70zł 39.07
$6.70₽494
59.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06zł 62.3
$7.56₽558
125.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.59zł 108
$16.63₽1,227
77.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.99zł 58.4
$19.27₽1,422
-17.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91zł 25.23
$4.50₽332
53.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$379zł 1,386
$318₽23.5K
19.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,219zł 30.0K
$6,994₽516.1K
17.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4zł 206
$112₽8,287
-49.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67zł 112
$31.95₽2,358
-4.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.4zł 265
$127₽9,377
-43.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1zł 311
$128₽9,453
-33.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657zł 2,399
$287₽21.2K
128.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534zł 1,950
$225₽16.6K
137.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963zł 3,519
$756₽55.8K
27.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$811zł 2,962
$510₽37.7K
58.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,413zł 12.5K
$1,589₽117.3K
114.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,566zł 9,374
$1,274₽94.0K
101.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szczecin
Volgograd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,660zł 6,064
$488₽36.0K
240.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
12.67
-49.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szczecin: June 1, 2026
Last update for Volgograd: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Szczecin and $287 in Volgograd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecin pays 240% 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: $50.0 in Szczecin vs $38.00 in Volgograd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $194 per month, with Volgograd cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Szczecin vs Volgograd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Volgograd cheaper than Szczecin?
Volgograd is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Szczecin or Volgograd?
Szczecin pays 240% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Szczecin and Volgograd?
Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Szczecin versus $287 in Volgograd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Szczecin vs Volgograd?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Szczecin versus $898 in Volgograd – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Volgograd runs roughly 112% less than in Szczecin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Szczecin or Volgograd?
At $898 in Volgograd versus $1,408 in Szczecin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Volgograd but tight or insufficient in Szczecin. The gap between the two cities makes Volgograd the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Szczecin or Volgograd?
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 safer, Szczecin or Volgograd?
Safety-wise, Szczecin and Volgograd are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Volgograd gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Szczecin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.