Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yakutsk and Novosibirsk

For one person, living is cheaper in Novosibirsk: $1,121 a month against $1,267 in Yakutsk, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yakutsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,267
/mo nomad
Novosibirsk
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,121
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yakutsk and in Novosibirsk

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Yakutsk and in Novosibirsk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,267 in Yakutsk versus $1,121 in Novosibirsk.

  • Yakutsk $1,267
  • Novosibirsk $1,121

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,829 in Yakutsk versus $1,786 in Novosibirsk.

  • Yakutsk $1,829
  • Novosibirsk $1,786

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,391 in Yakutsk versus $2,451 in Novosibirsk.

  • Yakutsk $2,391
  • Novosibirsk $2,451

Living in Yakutsk is roughly 13% more expensive than in Novosibirsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yakutsk 6% lower, Novosibirsk 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.54 ₽1,214
$11.52 ₽962
26.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.12 ₽3,515
$48.38 ₽4,038
-12.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 ₽762
$6.06 ₽506
50.83%
Cappuccino
$4.32 ₽360
$2.66 ₽222
62.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₽143
$1.11 ₽92.7
54.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₽78.0
$0.57 ₽47.92
63.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 ₽298
$1.18 ₽98.5
202.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₽204
$3.60 ₽300
-32.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 ₽159
$1.20 ₽100
59.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 ₽80.0
$0.70 ₽58.5
37.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.67 ₽140
$1.37 ₽114
21.90%
Eggs
$2.20 ₽183
$1.61 ₽135
36.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.78 ₽1,150
$12.06 ₽1,007
14.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.03 ₽670
$4.80 ₽401
67.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 ₽1,060
$12.01 ₽1,002
5.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 ₽256
$1.97 ₽164
55.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.45 ₽205
$1.78 ₽149
37.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.19 ₽267
$1.95 ₽163
63.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.09 ₽425
$3.30 ₽275
54.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 ₽102
$0.87 ₽73.0
41.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 ₽94.8
$0.60 ₽50.0
90.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₽98.6
$1.47 ₽122
-19.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₽88.4
$0.80 ₽66.6
32.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.19 ₽266
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.72 ₽811
$10.13 ₽846
-4.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₽118
$0.95 ₽79.4
49.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 ₽253
$1.65 ₽138
83.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 ₽59.6
$0.56 ₽46.81
26.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.12 ₽1,679
$29.40 ₽2,453
-31.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.98 ₽166
$2.41 ₽201
-17.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₽17.48
$0.49 ₽41.11
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 ₽413
$6.16 ₽514
-19.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 ₽73.7
$0.88 ₽73.1
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K ₽1.5M
$42.8K ₽3.6M
-57.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K ₽1.6M
$38.8K ₽3.2M
-49.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 ₽16.8K
$109 ₽9,089
84.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.80 ₽400
$7.32 ₽611
-34.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.85 ₽905
$8.35 ₽697
29.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.8 ₽6,072
$37.80 ₽3,155
92.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.99 ₽2,503
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.29 ₽608
$7.29 ₽609
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 ₽39.3K
$303 ₽25.3K
55.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$70.3 ₽5,865
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$46.16 ₽3,852
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$140 ₽11.7K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$98.3 ₽8,201
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$922 ₽76.9K
$546 ₽45.6K
68.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 ₽35.1K
$367 ₽30.6K
14.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ₽102.3K
$1,016 ₽84.8K
20.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$595 ₽49.6K
$672 ₽56.1K
-11.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,213 ₽184.7K
$2,352 ₽196.3K
-5.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,938 ₽161.7K
$1,778 ₽148.4K
8.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yakutsk
Novosibirsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$974 ₽81.3K
$887 ₽74.0K
9.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
21
22.83
-8.02%

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

Last update for Yakutsk: October 18, 2026

Last update for Novosibirsk: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yakutsk
$420
Novosibirsk
$367 12.8% $54
Groceries & Markets
Yakutsk
$288
Novosibirsk
$220 23.7% $68
Eating Out
Yakutsk
$229
Novosibirsk
$162 29.2% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yakutsk
$217
Novosibirsk
$125 42.5% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Yakutsk
$87
Novosibirsk
$52 40% $35
Getting Around
Yakutsk
$26
Novosibirsk
$37 40.4% $11
Clothing & Footwear
Yakutsk
- *
Novosibirsk
$160

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $922 in Yakutsk and $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yakutsk pays 10% 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: $42.00 in Yakutsk vs $48.00 in Novosibirsk. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $220, with Novosibirsk cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Yakutsk
🇷🇺 Novosibirsk
🕒 Local time
19:51 7:51 PM
17:51 5:51 PM
2 h behind Yakutsk
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
361,154
1,620,162
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RUB – Russian Ruble Converter

Russian Ruble exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 83.46 RUB (100 RUB = 1.2 USD). 1 EUR = 93.83 RUB (100 RUB = 1.07 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yakutsk Novosibirsk 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Yakutsk
  • Novosibirsk

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Yakutsk vs Novosibirsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novosibirsk cheaper than Yakutsk?
Novosibirsk is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Yakutsk or Novosibirsk?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Yakutsk, 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 Yakutsk and Novosibirsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $922 in Yakutsk versus $546 in Novosibirsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $471 in Yakutsk versus $303 in Novosibirsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Yakutsk and in Novosibirsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Yakutsk. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Yakutsk or in Novosibirsk?
At $1,121 in Novosibirsk versus $1,267 in Yakutsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novosibirsk but tight or insufficient in Yakutsk. The gap between the two cities makes Novosibirsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Yakutsk or in Novosibirsk?
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, Yakutsk or Novosibirsk?
Safety-wise, Yakutsk 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Novosibirsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Yakutsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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