Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and Novosibirsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Tomsk and Novosibirsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,072 in Tomsk versus $1,089 in Novosibirsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,622 in Tomsk versus $1,710 in Novosibirsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,171 in Tomsk versus $2,332 in Novosibirsk.

Living in Tomsk costs roughly 2% less than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tomsk 22% lower, Novosibirsk 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.66 ₽727

$11.86 ₽997

-26.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.66 ₽2,493

$41.53 ₽3,490

-28.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.29 ₽529

$5.86 ₽492

7.34%

Cappuccino

$2.24 ₽188

$2.47 ₽208

-9.31%

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

$0.90 ₽75.8

$1.10 ₽92.8

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₽34.30

$0.57 ₽47.92

-28.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₽88.9

$1.14 ₽95.6

-7.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 ₽292

$3.39 ₽285

2.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 ₽100

$1.14 ₽95.9

4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 ₽62.6

$0.63 ₽53.0

17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ₽83.5

$1.43 ₽120

-30.77%

Eggs

$1.43 ₽120

$1.64 ₽138

-12.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 ₽940

$11.47 ₽964

-2.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₽394

$5.00 ₽420

-6.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 ₽806

$11.24 ₽944

-14.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 ₽125

$1.86 ₽156

-19.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₽152

$1.57 ₽132

14.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.99 ₽167

$1.88 ₽158

5.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.66 ₽224

$3.16 ₽266

-15.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ₽36.72

$0.79 ₽66.5

-44.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 ₽28.12

$0.61 ₽51.1

-45.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.80 ₽152

$1.51 ₽127

19.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₽47.40

$0.71 ₽59.9

-21.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 ₽223

$3.09 ₽259

-13.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.28 ₽528

$10.54 ₽886

-40.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₽73.9

$1.00 ₽84.1

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 ₽136

$1.73 ₽146

-6.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₽35.81

$0.53 ₽44.69

-18.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.16 ₽686

$28.33 ₽2,381

-71.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 ₽199

$2.09 ₽176

13.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ₽23.46

$0.46 ₽38.62

-39.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.89 ₽579

$5.70 ₽479

20.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₽69.5

$0.76 ₽64.0

9.21%

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

$35.0K ₽2.9M

$23.4K ₽2.0M

49.57%

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

$30.2K ₽2.5M

$32.6K ₽2.7M

-7.50%

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

$150 ₽12.6K

$109 ₽9,202

37.19%

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

$8.27 ₽695

$7.02 ₽590

17.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.68 ₽981

$8.38 ₽704

39.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 ₽4,786

$37.86 ₽3,182

50.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.44 ₽1,298

$27.81 ₽2,338

-44.48%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 ₽382

$6.92 ₽582

-34.25%

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

$231 ₽19.4K

$289 ₽24.3K

-20.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$112 ₽9,392

$67.8 ₽5,696

64.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 ₽5,883

$45.72 ₽3,843

53.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$163 ₽13.7K

$127 ₽10.7K

28.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ₽9,681

$96.2 ₽8,087

19.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₽42.1K

$546 ₽45.9K

-8.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$292 ₽24.5K

$376 ₽31.6K

-22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$777 ₽65.3K

$1,002 ₽84.2K

-22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ₽40.9K

$701 ₽58.9K

-30.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 ₽180.2K

$2,403 ₽202.0K

-10.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 ₽134.2K

$1,770 ₽148.8K

-9.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$868 ₽73.0K

$857 ₽72.1K

1.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.83

-3.64%

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

Last update for Tomsk: September 6, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Tomsk and $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tomsk pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Tomsk vs $42.00 in Novosibirsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $213 per month, with Tomsk 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

Tomsk vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tomsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 1% higher in Tomsk, 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: $500 in Tomsk versus $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $231 in Tomsk versus $289 in Novosibirsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,072 in Tomsk versus $1,089 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tomsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Tomsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Tomsk and Novosibirsk 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 Tomsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.