Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulyanovsk and Novosibirsk Cost of Living Comparison Between Ulyanovsk and Novosibirsk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $835 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,017 in Novosibirsk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,239 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,647 in Novosibirsk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,642 in Ulyanovsk versus $2,276 in Novosibirsk.

Living in Ulyanovsk costs roughly 18% less than in Novosibirsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ulyanovsk 38% lower, Novosibirsk 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.93 ₽652

$7.46 ₽544

19.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.68 ₽2,312

$37.34 ₽2,725

-15.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.58 ₽408

$4.95 ₽361

12.73%

Cappuccino

$2.41 ₽176

$2.87 ₽210

-16.03%

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

$1.11 ₽81.0

$1.35 ₽98.8

-17.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₽33.36

$0.84 ₽61.3

-45.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₽61.8

$2.50 ₽183

-66.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₽122

$3.86 ₽282

-56.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 ₽80.6

$1.10 ₽80.3

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₽47.23

$0.57 ₽41.37

14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ₽86.8

$1.69 ₽123

-29.59%

Eggs

$1.57 ₽114

$1.79 ₽131

-12.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 ₽682

$10.93 ₽798

-14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 ₽347

$5.10 ₽373

-6.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.51 ₽621

$10.06 ₽734

-15.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 ₽90.9

$2.09 ₽153

-40.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₽109

$1.93 ₽141

-22.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 ₽107

$1.93 ₽141

-24.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₽127

$3.35 ₽245

-48.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ₽48.62

$0.76 ₽55.3

-11.84%

Onion (1kg)

$0.39 ₽28.68

$0.67 ₽48.95

-41.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 ₽128

$1.09 ₽79.3

60.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₽39.40

$0.73 ₽53.6

-26.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₽101

$3.20 ₽234

-56.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.98 ₽363

$9.58 ₽699

-48.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₽66.7

$0.91 ₽66.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₽129

$2.04 ₽149

-13.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₽31.58

$0.53 ₽38.76

-18.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.65 ₽2,310

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₽135

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.19 ₽13.75

$0.25 ₽18.21

-24.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.92 ₽286

$3.90 ₽285

0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 ₽55.4

$0.74 ₽54.2

2.70%

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

$48.7K ₽3.6M

$55.1K ₽4.0M

-11.68%

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

$44.7K ₽3.3M

$26.4K ₽1.9M

68.92%

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

$102 ₽7,465

$107 ₽7,782

-4.08%

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

$5.47 ₽399

$5.48 ₽400

-0.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.59 ₽408

$8.77 ₽640

-36.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.95 ₽2,624

$60.7 ₽4,432

-40.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 ₽1,779

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 ₽297

$5.99 ₽438

-32.05%

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

$89.2 ₽6,511

$354 ₽25.8K

-74.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,038 ₽440.7K

$4,701 ₽343.2K

28.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$100 ₽7,317

$69.9 ₽5,103

43.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.92 ₽3,498

$39.91 ₽2,913

20.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 ₽6,364

$96.6 ₽7,052

-9.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.7 ₽5,523

$77.9 ₽5,683

-2.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ₽23.0K

$470 ₽34.3K

-32.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ₽17.1K

$302 ₽22.0K

-22.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$565 ₽41.2K

$840 ₽61.3K

-32.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ₽22.2K

$647 ₽47.2K

-52.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,443 ₽178.3K

$3,092 ₽225.7K

-21.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,482 ₽108.2K

$1,999 ₽145.9K

-25.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$742 ₽54.1K

$897 ₽65.5K

-17.32%

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 Ulyanovsk: June 2, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $316 in Ulyanovsk and $470 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Novosibirsk pays 21% 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: $32.00 in Ulyanovsk vs $37.00 in Novosibirsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $210 per month, with Ulyanovsk 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

Ulyanovsk vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ulyanovsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Novosibirsk earns 21% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $316 in Ulyanovsk versus $470 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Novosibirsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $835 per month in Ulyanovsk versus $1,017 in Novosibirsk – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,017 in Novosibirsk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulyanovsk but tight or insufficient in Novosibirsk. The gap between the two cities makes Ulyanovsk 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 Ulyanovsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Novosibirsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.