🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Tula versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Tula versus $2,048 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,386 in Tula versus $2,788 in Saint Petersburg.
🙂Living in Tula costs roughly 15% less than in Saint Petersburg, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tula17% lower, Saint Petersburg2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.78₽960
$9.46₽711
35.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7₽4,260
$49.63₽3,729
14.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.49₽488
$5.67₽426
14.46%
Cappuccino
$1.97₽148
$2.57₽193
-23.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44₽108
$1.08₽81.5
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₽47.98
$0.58₽43.64
10.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00₽150
$3.09₽233
-35.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09₽232
$3.90₽293
-20.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28₽96.2
$1.17₽88.2
9.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65₽48.91
$0.96₽71.8
-32.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68₽126
$1.61₽121
4.35%
Eggs
$1.91₽143
$1.85₽139
3.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.72₽956
$12.38₽930
2.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.31₽399
$5.44₽408
-2.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.34₽401
$10.62₽798
-49.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94₽146
$1.75₽131
10.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11₽159
$1.85₽139
14.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87₽141
$1.98₽149
-5.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.74₽206
$3.50₽263
-21.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99₽74.0
$0.84₽63.0
17.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78₽58.8
$0.64₽48.14
21.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64₽123
$1.36₽102
20.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₽60.6
$0.75₽56.1
8.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49₽187
$2.91₽219
-14.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.09₽608
$9.57₽719
-15.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03₽77.6
$1.02₽76.3
0.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05₽78.6
$2.05₽154
-48.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48₽35.80
$0.90₽67.9
-46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.97₽1,350
$53.5₽4,017
-66.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36₽102
$2.87₽216
-52.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30₽22.42
$0.59₽44.67
-49.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.01₽602
$7.70₽579
4.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽56.8
$0.75₽56.7
1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K₽1.7M
$38.8K₽2.9M
-40.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K₽2.3M
$37.0K₽2.8M
-18.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$152₽11.5K
$132₽9,882
15.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.03₽603
$6.70₽503
19.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.97₽599
$7.34₽551
8.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.95₽1,273
$36.88₽2,770
-54.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.44₽1,460
$23.04₽1,731
-15.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28₽472
$5.84₽439
7.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$712₽53.5K
$397₽29.8K
79.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K₽1.1M
$9,653₽725.2K
51.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8₽6,672
$99.2₽7,451
-10.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.2₽3,918
$54.8₽4,116
-4.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$131₽9,828
$117₽8,791
11.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161₽12.1K
$133₽9,958
21.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385₽28.9K
$784₽58.9K
-50.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$317₽23.8K
$459₽34.5K
-31.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707₽53.1K
$1,442₽108.3K
-50.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576₽43.3K
$907₽68.2K
-36.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,993₽149.7K
$4,548₽341.7K
-56.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186₽89.1K
$2,919₽219.3K
-59.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tula
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,015₽76.2K
$1,261₽94.7K
-19.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.86
24.95
-40.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tula: April 27, 2026
Last update for Saint Petersburg: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $385 in Tula and $784 in Saint Petersburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Petersburg pays 24% 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: $57.0 in Tula vs $50.0 in Saint Petersburg. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $223, with Tula cheaper for home cooking.
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
Tula vs Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tula or Saint Petersburg?
Tula wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tula the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tula or Saint Petersburg?
On paper, Saint Petersburg earns 24% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tula vs Saint Petersburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $385 in Tula versus $784 in Saint Petersburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tula compared to Saint Petersburg?
All in, you'll spend $1,117 per month in Tula versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tula vs Saint Petersburg?
A monthly transit pass in Tula runs roughly 198% less than in Saint Petersburg. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tula or Saint Petersburg?
At $1,117 in Tula versus $1,308 in Saint Petersburg, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tula but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Tula the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tula or Saint Petersburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tula delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,117 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tula hard to pass up.
How safe is Tula compared to Saint Petersburg?
Safety-wise, Tula and Saint Petersburg 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.