🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $960 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $1,093 in Kazan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,432 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $1,692 in Kazan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,904 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $2,291 in Kazan.
🙂Living in Yoshkar-Ola costs roughly 12% less than in Kazan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Yoshkar-Ola28% lower, Kazan18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.46₽837
$7.47₽545
53.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.48₽1,859
$38.40₽2,802
-33.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14₽375
$6.40₽467
-19.69%
Cappuccino
$1.24₽90.8
$3.06₽223
-59.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71₽52.0
$1.12₽81.7
-36.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₽30.92
$0.78₽56.7
-46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.04₽75.8
$3.85₽281
-72.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23₽236
$4.73₽345
-31.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05₽76.6
$1.08₽78.5
-2.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62₽45.07
$0.72₽52.8
-13.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29₽94.4
$1.46₽106
-11.64%
Eggs
$1.61₽118
$1.95₽142
-17.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43₽761
$10.98₽801
-5.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.80₽350
$4.82₽352
-0.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.96₽654
$9.36₽683
-4.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76₽128
$1.94₽141
-9.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69₽123
$1.94₽141
-12.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92₽140
$2.42₽177
-20.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46₽180
$2.38₽173
3.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76₽55.6
$0.66₽48.46
15.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67₽48.70
$0.59₽43.15
13.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23₽90.1
$1.52₽111
-19.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₽53.8
$0.60₽44.09
23.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₽217
$3.26₽238
-8.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.26₽822
$8.95₽653
25.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18₽86.2
$0.99₽72.6
19.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14₽156
$1.89₽138
13.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42₽30.84
$0.57₽41.38
-26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$25.24₽1,842
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92₽140
$1.24₽90.8
54.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.16₽11.90
$0.25₽18.25
-36.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.63₽557
$5.59₽408
36.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72₽52.3
$0.71₽51.8
1.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.5K₽3.0M
$37.9K₽2.8M
7.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K₽2.3M
$44.5K₽3.2M
-28.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114₽8,352
$104₽7,609
9.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49₽401
$5.71₽417
-3.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.20₽526
$6.47₽472
11.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.69₽2,678
$23.77₽1,735
54.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.74₽1,368
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.57₽406
$5.72₽418
-2.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$344₽25.1K
$254₽18.6K
35.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,989₽291.2K
$7,002₽511.1K
-43.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4₽6,090
$66.2₽4,834
26.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.7₽5,452
$43.92₽3,206
70.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144₽10.5K
$104₽7,623
38.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114₽8,291
$100₽7,321
13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324₽23.6K
$626₽45.7K
-48.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252₽18.4K
$424₽31.0K
-40.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$516₽37.6K
$1,040₽75.9K
-50.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376₽27.4K
$684₽49.9K
-45.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,367₽99.8K
$4,848₽353.8K
-71.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,322₽96.5K
$2,879₽210.1K
-54.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yoshkar-Ola
Kazan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551₽40.2K
$976₽71.2K
-43.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.5
18.15
-31.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yoshkar-Ola: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kazan: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $324 in Yoshkar-Ola and $626 in Kazan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kazan pays 77% 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: $25.00 in Yoshkar-Ola vs $38.00 in Kazan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $203 per month, with Yoshkar-Ola 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
Yoshkar-Ola vs Kazan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan?
Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($960 vs $1,093 including rent). Yoshkar-Ola is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kazan earns 77% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan?
Rent for a central apartment: $324 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $626 in Kazan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Kazan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Yoshkar-Ola or Kazan?
All in, you'll spend $960 per month in Yoshkar-Ola versus $1,093 in Kazan – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $960 in Yoshkar-Ola versus $1,093 in Kazan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yoshkar-Ola but tight or insufficient in Kazan. The gap between the two cities makes Yoshkar-Ola the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan?
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.
Is Yoshkar-Ola or Kazan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yoshkar-Ola and Kazan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Yoshkar-Ola or Kazan?
Expats usually find Yoshkar-Ola gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Kazan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Yoshkar-Ola vs other spots: cost of living compared