In 2014, I moved to Moscow for the primary time. I used to be a scholar again then that already had lived in two completely different overseas nations. Russia was a special animal although. That wasn’t simply one other feel-good European nation. It was massive unhealthy, scary, unknown Russia.
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I had quite a lot of questions again then and I want somebody had written such a information for me.
That is why I compiled the whole lot that I find out about dwelling in Russia and shifting to Moscow on this article. Every half will reply the most typical questions that folks have about shifting to Russia.
Do individuals converse English in Moscow?
The unhealthy information is that ranges of English in Russia are nonetheless fairly poor, albeit slowly enhancing.
The excellent news is that you could get by with out realizing Russian, particularly for those who caught to the massive cities.
In Moscow and St.Petersburg, I’d guesstimate that about 50% of individuals below 30 can no less than considerably talk in English. Common Russians above 30 normally converse no English. In all different cities, it’s a lot lower than that.
Figuring out Russian could be very helpful and handy however I wouldn’t say it’s obligatory. Sure, it’s extra nice for those who truly perceive what individuals need from you. It additionally helps you an important cope with making associates. I’d strongly suggest studying to learn the Cyrillic alphabet. Should you can’t even learn, you’ll really feel relegated to the extent of a two-year-old.
How secure is Moscow?
Moscow is 100% secure to journey to.
Should you’re a vacationer and plan to go to Moscow for whichever motive, you don’t have anything to be afraid of.
I’m not at all an enormous traveler however I’ve been to a number of nations in Europe and within the US. Moscow and St.Petersburg are as secure as another massive Western capital.
There’s little or no petty crime resembling pick-pocketing, scams or foreigners and the types. You’re not possible to come across petty corruption by the police since this has been weeded out just a few years in the past.
You possibly can exit at any time of the evening throughout the metropolis heart. The quantity of shady individuals or locations the place you’ll really feel uncomfortable is near zero.
Russians maintain Western vacationers in excessive regard. Asians and Black individuals are usually okay too. They have an inclination to look down upon Central Asian migrants, who do quite a lot of low-paying jobs in Moscow and are inofficial second-class residents.
So if you’re from there, or may very well be mistaken for being from there, that is likely to be a bit disagreeable right here and there. However nothing that may endanger your safety.
Talking English all the time opens quite a lot of doorways in Moscow, even for those who may not get understood on a regular basis.
How is the climate in Moscow?
The local weather in Moscow could be very continental. The air could be very dry in contrast to New York Metropolis air for instance. That metropolis felt like a seaside resort for me. Very excessive and really low temperatures change into considerably extra bearable.
Between December and March, the temperature by no means rises above 0C for an extended time frame. January and February are the coldest months and sure, you’ll simply get just a few days in a row the place it’s -20C or much less.
This is likely to be good or unhealthy information however St.Petersburg, for instance, is far worse in that regard. I skilled -27C there and this was fairly friggin chilly to say the least.
Precise summer time solely lasts for an excellent three months, June to the start of September. It does normally get fairly heat with temperatures round +25C, typically even above that. Outdoors it’s bearable because of the dry air. Within the metro, you’ll be sweaty and sticky although. Just about the identical in winter to be truthful.
The humorous factor about Moscow climate is that there’s virtually no spring and fall.
Finish of April and particularly the start of Might is when actual spring begins in Moscow. The norm is 15C+ in Might however it will probably get even hotter (and likewise colder…). June is mostly already a summer time month.
By the top of August, you may really feel summer time already retrieving and September is the one actual month of fall in Moscow. Temperatures are nonetheless delicate, so it’s nonetheless nice to be outdoors.
A sunny winter day (not joking)
How you can take taxis in Moscow
Yandex Taxi is these days truly typically the most affordable choice to get a experience. Inside the metropolis heart, you’ll discover it exhausting to spend greater than 500 Rubles (~8$), even when costs enhance at peak instances. Yandex Taxi provides you the choice to decide on a hard and fast worth or experience by the meter. The previous is normally preferable.
Yandex is the most affordable and most dependable possibility. Outdoors of Moscow and St.Petersburg, it is usually the most-widespread app. That is why I like to recommend Yandex in most smaller cities in Russia.
Uber is a good and quick possibility though it may be costlier, particularly if they’ve a worth surge (which might occur to the skilled celebration particular person Saturday evening). Their buyer assist is pleasant and any points are usually resolved shortly. Their drivers are the weakest out of all the massive corporations.
Gettaxi is just like the opposite choices. Costs is usually a few % larger however you may additionally catch a less expensive experience if the opposite apps have a worth surge. I’ve been utilizing Gettaxi increasingly more just lately and I’m fairly glad with them. Gett is normally 10% costlier than Uber however I discovered it to be nicely price that distinction when it comes to service.
How you can discover an house in Moscow
For brief-term leases Airbnb is probably the most handy possibility. For long-term leases you might have a few choices.
My most popular possibility is utilizing a website referred to as cian.ru. It’s by far the most effective and most-used website for purchasing and renting property in Russia. It’s all in Russian however Google Translate will provide help to out. It’s consistently up to date and most of their presents are legit. There are additionally choices to filter for various elements of town, filter by metro station and all types of different stuff.
That is by far the most effective website and the one factor that I’d suggest utilizing. The one small draw back is that quite a lot of the presents come from real-estate brokers and are, subsequently, topic to a fee. Should you don’t converse Russian although, you’ll have a tough time negotiating with the owner your self. Nonetheless, it is a worth that’s price paying.
Price of dwelling in Moscow
Here is my primary rule of thumb value breakdown:
How you can discover work in Moscow
Discovering work is sort of powerful. Russian corporations can’t simply make use of foreigners as a result of foreigners want a piece visa. To get mentioned work visa, they’ve to finish an elaborate course of that proves you might be competent sufficient and required to do that work. That is why discovering company work in Russia is a foreigner is sort of a tough course of. Most corporations these days aren’t keen anymore to make use of a foreigner illegally. As well as additionally they do not wish to tackle the prices and time to get him a piece visa. Should you nonetheless wish to attempt your luck, Headhunter is the most effective website to start out in search of jobs.
An alternative choice is to get despatched to Russia as an expat. I can let you know as a lot about that as the following man as a result of I do know nothing in regards to the course of. Nonetheless, that’s a lot preferable to discovering employment in Russia as a result of you’ll be paid a Western wage, get assist with lodging, insurances and the entire shebang. Should you work company, do that.
The ultimate possibility is to freelance or have your individual enterprise. You possibly can all the time train English however I truthfully advise in opposition to that. Being self-employed is nice as a result of for those who earn in exhausting foreign money however spend in Rubles, you might be geo-arbitraging and making the most of the comparably low value of dwelling.
There are two potential methods of dwelling legally in Russia. You want a visa as a highly-qualified specialist or a piece visa.
To get employed as a highly-qualified specialist, you have to earn above a sure revenue threshold and be of remarkable worth to your employer (burden of proof is on them). In brief, for those who’re an expat or working a better place, this may not be a difficulty. Should you’re entry-level or freelancing, neglect about it.
You can even get a piece visa from a Russian firm. Nonetheless, that is costly and time-intensive for the corporate in order that they’re unlikely to do it. There’s a approach of getting a piece visa and legally proudly owning your individual firm in Russia. That is how one can reside legally in Russia whereas being a freelancer or having your individual enterprise. Get in contact with me for session and additional authorized and administrative help on proudly owning your individual firm in Russia.
