Cost of Living: Moscow vs Perth (2026)

Russia vs Australia — relocation comparison

TL;DRMoscow is 18% cheaper on rent ($1499/mo vs $1821/mo). Perth is safer — homicide rate 0.8 vs 7.8 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
39
Livability Score
🇷🇺 Moscow
Russia
Full profile
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
Perth scores 66 to Moscow's 39 on livability — the gap is real. Moscow has its charms, but the numbers favor Perth.
💰
Cost of Living
Moscow
$322/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Perth
0.8 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
22°C vs 29°C summers
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Moscow
Metric
Perth
$1499/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1821/mo
$533/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$428/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$11,432
7.8 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.8 / 100k
22°C
☀️
Summer high
29°C
-9°C
❄️
Winter low
9°C
2.2 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
Low (22/100)
🗣️
English ease
Very High (95/100)
$47k
💼
GDP per capita
$72k
8.4%
📈
Inflation
3.2%
39 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
66 / 100

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

PISA
country avg
497
3
Intl schools
1
$670/mo
Childcare
full-day
$2347/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

declining
Democracy trend
stable

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 18% cheaper in Moscow ($1499/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Perth (29°C vs 22°C).
  • Perth is safer by homicide rate (0.8 vs 7.8 per 100k).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 2.2 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 22/100 English proficiency).

Moscow vs Perth — Common Questions

Is Moscow cheaper than Perth?

Moscow is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1499/month in Moscow vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Moscow or Perth?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Moscow has a rate of 7.82 per 100,000 and Perth has 0.83 per 100,000.

Should I move to Moscow or Perth?

Perth scores 66 to Moscow's 39 on livability — the gap is real. Moscow has its charms, but the numbers favor Perth. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Moscow or Perth?

Perth is warmer in summer (29°C vs 22°C). Moscow has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Moscow or Perth without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Moscow (22/100). In Perth, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Moscow, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

Factor in your salary, family size, weather preferences, and deal-breakers.