| Russia |
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| City: |
Russia |
| Country: |
Moscow |
| Submitter' s Name: |
Jane |
| Nationality: |
American |
| Arrival Date: |
September, 2007 |
| Date Submitted: |
December 12, 2008 |
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Moscow is an energetic, non-stop, expensive city. There are many museums, ballet, theater, etc. The streets are wide and long, so it is possible to spend many months discovering Moscow. The weather is cold, but not unbearable. It rains more than it snows. |
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Pros are the richness and depth of the Russian culture. Some things just have to be seen to be believed. I will include as a pro the relative safety of Moscow. Before I came here, I had heard many cautionary tales, however, Moscow is no more dangerous than any other big city. The center is always alive and bustling, and I feel safe generally.
The cons are the near impossibility to get by in this city without speaking Russian, or at a minimum, knowing how to read Cyrillic letters. Prejudices do exist here, and this is not a color-blind, gender-blind society. Russians are emotional people, however, so anyone who behaves sensibly and respectfully will likely have a positive experience here.
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Bureaucracy is the highest hurdle to get anything done in Moscow. As far as I know, visas etc are usually handled by the company that hires, and usually takes months and is very effort-consuming. |
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Housing is very expensive in the center. Moscow was rated as the most expensive city in the world, and as a benchmark, it is the norm to see 1-bedroom 50 m2 (about 600 ft2) apartment (in the center) being rented for US$4,000 or so. For an expat, I would strongly suggest against living anywhere but the center, so housing should normally be negotiated as part of the contract.
Also, apartment rentals here are done almost exclusively through agents, who charge 100% of the rent. So, upon your first rent, you will have to pay the agent, and a security deposit (also 100%). The first month can be quite substantial because of these reasons. Again, good idea to include in the contract.
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It is common to have maids and nannies. The labor is fairly cheap in Moscow, but recommendations are a must.. |
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Internet and mobile phones in Moscow are expensive compared to the US. The mobile industry in particular is not yet adapted to Western standards, and things like the iPhone end up costing an arm and a leg. Nonetheless, the mobile is by far the most often used method of communication.
Landlines are the norm here, too, and they are cheap. Landlines are not yet "digital" in Moscow, so they are all in "analog" mode, which was a shock for me to find out (that I cannot press 1 or 8 or # or whatever).
The quality of reception is good in the city. There are also a few wi-fi spots through the city, and it seems reasonable to sign up if you do not want to get a home connection.
There are some TV programs in foreign languages (including English... CNN, BBC, NBC, Travel, etc)... but not Fox or ABC or other channels. The foreign channels cost an extra US$20 per month or so, but the choice is scarce.
Postal service is not reliable at all. I have not gotten some packages that I have been waiting for for 2 months already, and almost all other expats I know are missing packages lost in the post. One confusion is at the language level, because Russian street names are "translated" into English letters, and they do not always correspond in the mind of the locals. Generally, the only way to really get mail is through tracking DHL or Fedex. |
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Russian almost exclusively. Very few speak English or other languages. There is an anglo-saxon school, and for expats with children there are programs to continue with the English program. |
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Tap water is not safe to drink. Everyone always drinks bottled water. The home water delivery is, I think, very cheap at US$20 for 4 large 20 L jugs. For 2 people, these 4 jugs last for a few weeks. The company I have used is Nestle Pure Life, but there are many, many water delivery companies here.. |
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It is hard to find a job in Moscow being from elsewhere. I personally arrived to Moscow on a contract, but I know people who are struggling to find a job and cannot. People do not really speak English, and if they are interested in your English, then you have to speak Russian to build a way to communicate. This is not an easy city to come to and "explore", especially that it is so expensive.. |
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Local currency is Rubles, and everyone takes only Rubles. Sometimes Euros are accepted too, but Dollars are no longer the preferred currency.
To set up a bank account you need to acquire a healthy dose of patience and understanding for the bureaucratic system. Anyone who lives in Russia has to learn to carry their passport with them at all times. The banks require my passport at every step, even if all I want is to withdraw (or deposit) money in my own account.
The bank account set-up can take up to one hour and include requirements of copies of every page of the passport, the housing registration document, employment contract, and other things. The lines are also very long to talk to a person who can set up an account (even if all you want is to find out what papers you need), so this may be a multi-trip, multi-hour, process. |
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There are some decent European and American healthcare clinics. The Russian clinics are not bad and the Russian doctors are usually well-educated. However, the language and culture barrier may be too strong.
The pharmacy in Moscow is similar to a pharmacy elsewhere in Europe. Pharmacists are professionals and they can help with anything. Prescriptions are easy enough to get, and the whole process is a breeze. |
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Getting a car in Moscow is a difficult task for an expat because of the bureaucracy to register the car, usually involving some bribing. Also, Moscow has some of the worst congestions of any city in the world. A lot of people drive for 3-4 hours in each direction to get to (or from) work.
As an expat, by far the best option is to live in the center, or near a metro stop and take the metro. The metro is very punctual. It comes every 2 minutes or so, and is never late. The stations are beautiful inside, and it Is a very fast and cheap way to get around the city. One metro ticket (to go anywhere) costs 19 roubles, which is about 70 US cents. |
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Buying clothes is expensive in Moscow. Almost all locals who have the opportunity to travel, buy their clothes elsewhere in Europe. Beauty care is easy to find everywhere, including in pharmacies and "sephora"-type stores. I cannot think of anything that I should have taken from home. You can find almost everything here. |
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Soccer (football) is very popular here, as is hockey. Entertainment here is world-class, and must be explored by anyone who comes here. Ballet, theater, musicals, operas, conservatories, these are world-renowned companies, and the tickets are cheaper than they are in the States (sometimes incredibly cheap - at US$12 for front row seats).. |
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City Description
Healthcare
