Russia : Cost of Living by City
- Chelyabinsk
- Kaliningrad
- Kazan
- Krasnodar
- Moscow
- Nizhny Novgorod
- Novosibirsk
- Rostov-na-donu
- Saint Petersburg
- Samara
- Voronezh
- Yekaterinburg
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Nizhny Novgorod?
Nizhny Novgorod, colloquially shortened to Nizhny (meaning “lower”), is Russia‘s fifth largest city, right after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg.
It’s an old city, almost as old as Moscow. So you can find a lot of beautiful historical places to visit.
It’s also the place where two most important Russian rivers (Oka and Volga) come together.
Nizhny Novgorod is, apart from being a lot calmer and relaxed place, considerably cheaper to live in, than Moscow.
The cost of living is much lower since it’s not a popular tourist destination.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Nizhny Novgorod
RESTAURANTS
When it comes to eating out, the city has an impressive collection of restaurants, cafes, and bars in the city, and you can find some acceptable places where you can eat for around 7$, but be wary as there are also many tourist traps. There are 4 centrally-located McDonald’s restaurants in Nizhny Novgorod, so you can count on international food chains as well.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $7.61 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.29 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.38 |
MARKETS
For food, people generally shop at nearby shops and get locally produced food except for some types of fruits and vegetables that aren’t grown locally. If you purchase imported goods all the time, your cost of groceries will be higher, of course. A network of supermarkets called Vkusvill can be up to two times more expensive, but all food is more natural.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.85 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.45 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.12 |
TRANSPORTATION
Nizhny Novgorod one of the few cities in Russia that have underground. It’s still small (there are plans to grow it though) and not as useful and well-organized as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, but it’s the only predictable kind of public transport and is extremely helpful in some situations. Taxis are also available, cheap and operate mostly through an on-call service. One-way ticket for public transport costs around 0.40$.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $0.43 |
| Monthly Pass | $20.54 |
| Gasoline | $0.67 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Most people living in Nizhny Novgorod consider utilities expensive, probably due to the fact that the bills skyrocket during winter (because of all the heating). However, compared to other countries, utilities aren’t too expensive. For an apartment of 85m2 all basic utilities, including electricity, gas, garbage services, heating and cooling cost around 115$.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $114.80 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.02 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $6.88 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
If you like sports, there are many places to go in Nizhny Novgorod, especially in the winter. For example, there is a ski base on Shchelkovsky Khutor and many big ice rinks (Dinamo, Trud, Sports Palace, etc.) However, there are many people who prefer exercising inside. If you’re one of those people, a gym membership will cost you about 30$ per month. There are also many cinemas in the city, and you can even enjoy movies in IMAX format for 5$.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $29.21 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $16.23 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $4.56 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
If you like shopping, there are many excellent shopping malls like Fantastika, Sedmoe Nebo, Mega, etc. where you can find plenty of clothes, shoes, perfumes, sports equipment etc. They offer cheap prices for food and beverages but the prices of clothing and shoes aren’t low. For example, you can buy a pair of quality jeans for around 70$, while a pair of running shoes of brands like Nike costs around 85$.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $72.26 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.03 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $84.02 |
RENT PER MONTH
Your biggest cost in Nizhny Novgorod will be your accommodation. Rental properties vary quite a bit, depending on whether you want to live near a subway station or not and on the condition of the apartment. Usually, an apartment in the city center will cost around 340$, while an apartment a bit more further will cost you over 200$.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $339.73 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $206.26 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $730.01 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Nizhny Novgorod?
Not surprisingly at all, the biggest expense for the people living in Nizhny Novgorod is food, which is expected since it’s the only thing that absolutely HAS to be paid.
With the rent prices that are somewhat higher than in other smaller cities of Russia, hands down the second biggest expense for anyone in this city are the rents.
And no wonder, really, the rents take up over 20% of one’s income here!
Restaurants are on the third place on the list of biggest expenses here – since many people eat there every day, three times a day.
Apparel is the least of all expenses, like in most countries, taking up only about 5% of all expenses.
Average Costs Breakdown
Nizhny Novgorod: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The average salary in Nizhny Novgorod is just a bit higher than in many other cities but taking into consideration the rents and the prices of utilities, transportation and other expenses, it’s not too high of a salary.
With this kind of salary, you can cover all basic expenses, but you can’t save up or indulge in experiences and adventures like traveling.
Minimum wage in Moscow is around 140$ which, although a norm in the cities of Russia, can definitely be a problem for the residents, since it isn’t even enough to cover all basic needs, let alone save up.
Nizhny Novgorod Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Nizhny Novgorod Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | MEDIUM |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | MEDIUM |
| TERRORISM RISK | MEDIUM |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| TAP WATER RISK | MEDIUM |
Cost of Living by City in Russia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Chelyabinsk |
37.29 |
| Kaliningrad |
35.4 |
| Kazan |
33.67 |
| Krasnodar |
32.37 |
| Moscow |
44.54 |
| Novosibirsk |
33.65 |
| Rostov-na-donu |
32.4 |
| Saint Petersburg |
39.25 |
| Samara |
35.96 |
| Voronezh |
31.74 |
| Yekaterinburg |
36.41 |
It’s great to know there are hidden gems like Nizhny Novgorod that offer a mix of history and affordability. Sounds like the perfect spot for those looking to explore Russia without breaking the bank. Plus, who wouldn’t love being near two rivers?
Guess being cheaper than Moscow is a real selling point now, huh? What a shocker that tourists prefer the hustle and bustle over a “calm and relaxed” vibe. Who needs history when you can pay triple for a latte in a crowded café?
It’s nice to know there’s a place with rich history and a more chill vibe without breaking the bank. Makes me want to explore more off-the-beaten-path spots like this.