Serpukhov vs Kostroma
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Kostroma is approximately 26% less expensive than Serpukhov 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.
Side by side
Best in rowRussia
Serpukhov
Russia
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 13% less than Serpukhov. Serpukhov scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Kostroma is approximately 26% less expensive than Serpukhov 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 Serpukhov
Serpukhov is a cheap place to live and not much else, with a cost of living index of 35/100 and a one-bedroom in the center at $468/mo, but a local net salary of $1,149/mo means most residents are not living large. The expat infrastructure is essentially nonexistent, English proficiency is limited, and the digital nomad visa demands $9,678/mo in income, which is absurd for a town of 134 thousand people. Come here only if you have remote income, a high tolerance for cold winters, and no need for an expat community.
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.
$2,079/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
Scroll to compare
| Metric | Serpukhov | Kostroma |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $467.91 | $372.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $409.42 | $209.59 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $600 | $582.19 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $450 | $349.31 |
| Safety Index | 78.43 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 30Mbps | 35Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Serpukhov | Kostroma |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $912/mo | $780/mo |
| Excluding rent | $503/mo | $570/mo |
| Rent | $409/mo | $210/mo |
| Groceries | $120/mo | $133/mo |
| Dining out | $117/mo | $118/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $73.00/mo | $93.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $193/mo | $206/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $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.
Planning a move to Kostroma? Make sure you have the right visa.
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.
Find my visa →Compare any two visa routes.
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including Russia and Russia.
Compare visas →Explore Russia
Serpukhov vs Kostroma -- Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to expand the answer.
Resources for Moving to Kostroma
Find hotels in Kostroma
Search and compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites.
Search hotels →Short-term rentals in Kostroma
Browse vacation rentals while you scout neighborhoods for a long-term lease.
Browse rentals →EU health insurance for Russia
Get comprehensive health coverage valid across Europe.
Get covered →eSIM for Kostroma
Get connected the moment you land. No physical SIM needed.
Get eSIM →VPN for secure browsing in Kostroma
Protect your data and access geo-restricted content while traveling.
Get NordVPN →