Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulan Ude and Novosibirsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulan Ude and Novosibirsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Ulan Ude versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,679 in Ulan Ude versus $1,769 in Novosibirsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,265 in Ulan Ude versus $2,422 in Novosibirsk.

Living in Ulan Ude costs roughly 2% less than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulan Ude 20% lower, Novosibirsk 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.68 ₽565

$11.88 ₽1,004

-43.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.49 ₽4,012

$41.77 ₽3,529

13.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 ₽611

$6.09 ₽515

18.72%

Cappuccino

$3.50 ₽296

$2.47 ₽209

41.70%

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

$1.83 ₽154

$1.13 ₽95.4

61.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ₽154

$0.61 ₽51.6

198.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.61 ₽305

$1.21 ₽102

198.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 ₽499

$3.64 ₽308

62.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 ₽107

$1.20 ₽101

5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 ₽71.4

$0.71 ₽60.1

18.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.46 ₽38.77

$1.51 ₽128

-69.54%

Eggs

$1.86 ₽158

$1.67 ₽141

11.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.85 ₽1,002

$11.71 ₽990

1.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.07 ₽513

$4.84 ₽409

25.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.57 ₽893

$11.32 ₽956

-6.63%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 ₽102

$1.93 ₽163

-37.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 ₽147

$1.65 ₽139

5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 ₽98.3

$1.85 ₽157

-37.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₽195

$3.09 ₽261

-25.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₽48.98

$0.82 ₽69.1

-29.27%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 ₽68.0

$0.66 ₽55.6

22.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.58 ₽302

$1.54 ₽130

132.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₽58.8

$0.72 ₽60.6

-2.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 ₽241

$3.02 ₽255

-5.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.19 ₽692

$10.50 ₽887

-22.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ₽51.9

$1.02 ₽86.5

-40.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 ₽98.1

$1.82 ₽154

-36.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 ₽38.31

$0.52 ₽43.59

-13.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.76 ₽2,007

$28.29 ₽2,390

-16.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 ₽108

$2.09 ₽177

-38.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.15 ₽12.50

$0.48 ₽40.57

-68.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.13 ₽602

$5.91 ₽499

20.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₽70.3

$0.82 ₽69.4

1.22%

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

$47.3K ₽4.0M

$23.6K ₽2.0M

100.26%

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

$35.0K ₽3.0M

$33.4K ₽2.8M

4.74%

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

$120 ₽10.1K

$110 ₽9,333

8.22%

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

$3.65 ₽309

$7.22 ₽610

-49.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.23 ₽696

$8.60 ₽727

-4.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.57 ₽1,991

$38.70 ₽3,270

-39.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.39 ₽4,004

$29.34 ₽2,479

61.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.24 ₽611

$7.24 ₽612

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

$292 ₽24.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.9 ₽5,993

$68.6 ₽5,799

3.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.65 ₽2,505

$46.23 ₽3,906

-35.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₽9,900

$125 ₽10.6K

-6.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₽9,896

$95.5 ₽8,069

22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₽42.1K

$560 ₽47.3K

-10.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 ₽30.9K

$389 ₽32.9K

-6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$760 ₽64.3K

$991 ₽83.7K

-23.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 ₽50.3K

$705 ₽59.6K

-15.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ₽166.8K

$2,424 ₽204.8K

-18.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,551 ₽131.0K

$1,794 ₽151.6K

-13.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$882 ₽74.5K

$868 ₽73.3K

1.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

21.67

22.83

-5.08%

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

Last update for Ulan Ude: September 15, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Ulan Ude and $560 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulan Ude pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Ulan Ude vs $42.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $216, with Ulan Ude 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

Ulan Ude vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

Average pay runs 2% higher in Ulan Ude, 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: $498 in Ulan Ude versus $560 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,093 per month in Ulan Ude versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,093 in Ulan Ude versus $1,117 in Novosibirsk, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ulan Ude but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Ulan Ude 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.

Expats usually find Ulan Ude 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.