City Comparison
New York City vs Moscow
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Moscow scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
New York City
Moscow
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
248% higher compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: New York City's average rent is
153% higher than Moscow's.
| Metric | New York City | Moscow | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,382 | $1,338 | +153% |
| Groceries | $520 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $370 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $4,652 | $1,338 | +248% |
| Cost Index | 178 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 33% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in New York City is estimated at
$61,000 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
| Metric | New York City | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $100,877 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $61,000 | $84,360 |
| Purchasing Power | 56,672 idx | 68,468 idx |
| Household Income | $80,483 | $57,022 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | New York City | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 63.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Moscow has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
14,500 minutes (242 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | New York City | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 43 min | 14 min |
| Transit Score | 88.0/10 | 45.0/10 |
| Walkability | 89.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
— approximately 326.6x the population of Moscow.
From a growth perspective, Moscow is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | New York City | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,585,000 | 26,286 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 25.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.90% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $1,354.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
New York City
#168New York, USA
37.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
Moscow
#72Idaho, USA
60.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between New York City and Moscow.
Open Cost Calculator