Ivanovo vs Kostroma
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Kostroma is approximately 16% less expensive than Ivanovo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Kostroma a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Kostroma has a FIRE Score of 61/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Kostroma is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
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Ivanovo
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Kostroma
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Kostroma
About Russia
A Level 4 do-not-travel advisory rules this out for virtually everyone, and there is no retirement visa to offset that risk. Only those with existing Russian citizenship ties or family obligations should look past it, given rent as low as $354/mo outside the center. Everyone else should treat the 34.2 overall score as the final word.
Kostroma costs roughly 2% less than Ivanovo. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Kostroma is approximately 16% less expensive than Ivanovo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Kostroma a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Kostroma has a FIRE Score of 61/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 70, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Kostroma is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Ivanovo
Ivanovo is a cheap place to live and not much else, with a cost of living index of 31/100 and a 1-bedroom in the center at $432/mo, yet the average monthly net salary is just $351/mo, so remote work is the only sane way to make it pencil out. The FIRE score of 83/100 is genuinely tempting, but an expat score of 58/100, very few expats, limited English, and a digital nomad visa requiring $9,678/mo in income tell you the social and bureaucratic reality is rougher than the price tag suggests. Come for the low overhead and the $18/mo transport pass, stay only if you can tolerate a gray, insular city of 464 thousand with 28 Mbps internet and winters that test your resolve.
About Russia
A Level 4 do-not-travel advisory rules this out for virtually everyone, and there is no retirement visa to offset that risk. Only those with existing Russian citizenship ties or family obligations should look past it, given rent as low as $354/mo outside the center. Everyone else should treat the 34.2 overall score as the final word.
$2,209/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Russia
A Level 4 do-not-travel advisory rules this out for virtually everyone, and there is no retirement visa to offset that risk. Only those with existing Russian citizenship ties or family obligations should look past it, given rent as low as $354/mo outside the center. Everyone else should treat the 34.2 overall score as the final word.
$2,220/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Ivanovo | Kostroma |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $432.03 | $372.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $324.02 | $209.59 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $628.99 | $582.19 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $330.38 | $349.31 |
| Safety Index | 51.47 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 28.3Mbps | 35Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Ivanovo | Kostroma |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $797/mo | $780/mo |
| Excluding rent | $473/mo | $570/mo |
| Rent | $324/mo | $210/mo |
| Groceries | $89.00/mo | $133/mo |
| Dining out | $94.00/mo | $118/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $78.00/mo | $93.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $194/mo | $206/mo |
| Transport | $18.00/mo | $20.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Ivanovo vs Kostroma -- Frequently Asked Questions
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