Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaroslavl and Saint Petersburg

For one person, living is cheaper in Yaroslavl: $855 a month against $1,334 in Saint Petersburg, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yaroslavl
🇷🇺 Russia
$855
/mo nomad
Saint Petersburg
🇷🇺 Russia
$1,334
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yaroslavl and in Saint Petersburg

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Yaroslavl versus $1,334 in Saint Petersburg.

  • Yaroslavl $855
  • Saint Petersburg $1,334

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Yaroslavl versus $2,131 in Saint Petersburg.

  • Yaroslavl $1,347
  • Saint Petersburg $2,131

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,839 in Yaroslavl versus $2,927 in Saint Petersburg.

  • Yaroslavl $1,839
  • Saint Petersburg $2,927

Living in Yaroslavl costs roughly 36% less than in Saint Petersburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yaroslavl 37% lower, Saint Petersburg 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.01 ₽501
$11.86 ₽990
-49.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.76 ₽2,567
$41.90 ₽3,497
-26.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 ₽601
$6.51 ₽544
10.60%
Cappuccino
$2.88 ₽241
$3.21 ₽268
-10.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 ₽83.1
$1.63 ₽136
-38.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₽46.47
$0.78 ₽64.8
-28.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ₽77.0
$3.04 ₽254
-69.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ₽122
$3.72 ₽310
-60.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 ₽77.6
$1.17 ₽97.9
-20.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₽72.0
$1.00 ₽83.4
-14.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 ₽99.9
$1.69 ₽141
-28.99%
Eggs
$1.61 ₽135
$1.64 ₽137
-1.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.96 ₽748
$12.32 ₽1,028
-27.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.16 ₽431
$6.62 ₽553
-22.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.32 ₽1,028
$12.56 ₽1,048
-1.91%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 ₽132
$1.77 ₽147
-10.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 ₽119
$1.62 ₽135
-11.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 ₽129
$1.75 ₽146
-12.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.57 ₽215
$3.27 ₽273
-21.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 ₽60.1
$0.84 ₽70.3
-14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.40 ₽33.43
$0.66 ₽54.7
-39.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 ₽123
$1.29 ₽108
13.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₽34.06
$0.76 ₽63.6
-46.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.24 ₽187
$3.07 ₽256
-27.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.11 ₽593
$8.59 ₽717
-17.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ₽63.8
$1.20 ₽101
-36.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ₽122
$2.01 ₽168
-26.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ₽41.60
$1.05 ₽87.2
-52.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.78 ₽1,484
$53.2 ₽4,440
-66.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 ₽300
$2.74 ₽229
31.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₽18.79
$0.62 ₽51.6
-62.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 ₽297
$8.74 ₽730
-59.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 ₽72.5
$0.93 ₽77.4
-6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.2K ₽3.7M
$40.9K ₽3.4M
8.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K ₽3.3M
$36.2K ₽3.0M
7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ₽8,789
$151 ₽12.6K
-30.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.73 ₽311
$7.75 ₽647
-51.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.96 ₽414
$8.66 ₽723
-42.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.81 ₽2,237
$41.26 ₽3,444
-35.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.80 ₽1,485
$42.73 ₽3,567
-58.34%
Cinema Ticket
$5.87 ₽490
$7.46 ₽622
-21.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$184 ₽15.4K
$633 ₽52.9K
-70.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,557 ₽296.9K
$17.4K ₽1.5M
-79.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.49 ₽3,546
$98.5 ₽8,224
-56.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.39 ₽2,036
$52.9 ₽4,412
-53.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 ₽11.9K
$138 ₽11.5K
3.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 ₽9,886
$121 ₽10.1K
-2.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$383 ₽31.9K
$741 ₽61.8K
-48.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$223 ₽18.6K
$447 ₽37.3K
-50.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$792 ₽66.1K
$1,620 ₽135.2K
-51.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$416 ₽34.8K
$939 ₽78.4K
-55.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,561 ₽213.7K
$4,469 ₽373.0K
-42.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,205 ₽100.6K
$2,803 ₽233.9K
-57.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yaroslavl
Saint Petersburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$832 ₽69.4K
$1,187 ₽99.1K
-29.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.56
19.81
-1.26%

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

Last update for Yaroslavl: October 18, 2026

Last update for Saint Petersburg: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yaroslavl
$223
Saint Petersburg
$447 100% $224
Groceries & Markets
Yaroslavl
$189
Saint Petersburg
$230 21.7% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Yaroslavl
$148
Saint Petersburg
$185 25.1% $37
Eating Out
Yaroslavl
$118
Saint Petersburg
$185 56.9% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yaroslavl
$114
Saint Petersburg
$167 46.9% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Yaroslavl
$39
Saint Petersburg
$56 45.7% $18
Getting Around
Yaroslavl
$25
Saint Petersburg
$63 158% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $383 in Yaroslavl and $741 in Saint Petersburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Petersburg pays 43% 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: $31.00 in Yaroslavl vs $42.00 in Saint Petersburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $230 per month, with Yaroslavl cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇺 Yaroslavl
🇷🇺 Saint Petersburg
🕒 Local time
13:52 1:52 PM
13:52 1:52 PM
Same time as Yaroslavl
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
570,824
5,597,763
💱 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
  • Yaroslavl Saint Petersburg 610 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yaroslavl
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City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

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Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Yaroslavl vs Saint Petersburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yaroslavl or Saint Petersburg?
Yaroslavl wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Saint Petersburg. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yaroslavl the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Yaroslavl or in Saint Petersburg?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Saint Petersburg. 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 Yaroslavl compared to Saint Petersburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $383 in Yaroslavl versus $741 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 Yaroslavl compared to Saint Petersburg?
All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Yaroslavl versus $1,334 in Saint Petersburg – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Yaroslavl compared to Saint Petersburg?
A monthly transit pass in Yaroslavl runs roughly 199% 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 Yaroslavl or in Saint Petersburg?
At $855 in Yaroslavl versus $1,334 in Saint Petersburg, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yaroslavl but tight or insufficient in Saint Petersburg. The gap between the two cities makes Yaroslavl the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yaroslavl or Saint Petersburg?
Both work as nomad bases, but Yaroslavl delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $855 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Yaroslavl hard to pass up.
How safe is Yaroslavl compared to Saint Petersburg?
Safety-wise, Yaroslavl 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 Yaroslavl gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Saint Petersburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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