{"id":12729,"date":"2021-11-08T13:02:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-08T13:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/?p=12729"},"modified":"2025-12-19T08:45:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T08:45:47","slug":"best-places-to-live-in-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Places to Live in Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"770\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/vladivostok-russia.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset view of Zolotoy Bridge across the Zolotoy Rog (Golden Horn) Bay in Vladivostok, Russia\" class=\"wp-image-12997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/vladivostok-russia.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/vladivostok-russia-300x175.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/vladivostok-russia-768x449.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image Source: Shutterstock \/ Location: Vladivostok, Russia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Russia is a big country with a lot of different cities, each with its charm. A look at the best cities to live in Russia, highlighting their distinctive features, quality of life, and why they&#8217;re so popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Russia is known for its great culture and world-class museums and is home to some of the world&#8217;s most charming cities. Life for expats in Russia is generally comfortable, with groceries and utility bills remaining relatively inexpensive, even in major cities such as Moscow. Outside of the major metropolitan areas, prices are even cheaper, with lower bills for food and transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out where to live in Russia if you&#8217;re considering moving there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a12bd75c6385\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a12bd75c6385\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Best_cities_to_live_in_Russia\" >Best cities to live in Russia<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Moscow\" >Moscow<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#St_Petersburg\" >St Petersburg<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Vladivostok\" >Vladivostok<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Irkutsk\" >Irkutsk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Kazan\" >Kazan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#A_few_other_nice_Russian_cities_to_live_in_as_an_expat\" >A few other nice Russian cities to live in as an expat<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Balashikha\" >Balashikha<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Tyumen\" >Tyumen<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Sochi\" >Sochi<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Cities_and_places_you_should_avoid\" >Cities and places you should avoid<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Kyzyl\" >Kyzyl<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Karabash\" >Karabash<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Norilsk\" >Norilsk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Acidic_Lake\" >Acidic Lake<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-russia\/#Takeaways\" >Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_cities_to_live_in_Russia\"><\/span>Best cities to live in Russia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most expats move to Russia to take up senior management positions. They prefer the cities so they can benefit from higher salaries, and career packages there often come with accommodation, insurance and other comforts. So what cities are the most preferred destinations? Here are the five top contenders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Moscow\"><\/span>Moscow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Moscow is one of Russia\u2019s most ancient cities. If you love culture and history, you\u2019ll be spoiled for choice with the abundance of world-famous sites to visit, such as the Kremlin and the Kolomenskoe Museum, where the unique Russian style is original and exceptional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moscow is also a city that never sleeps &#8211; you\u2019ll be able to buy or order any service 24\/7, and the city boasts excellent travel connections and a low cost of living. Moving to Moscow from the UK provides opportunities for career advancements and high salaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last few years, many city areas have been turned into beautiful nature spots, with Moscow parks offering areas for walking, playing sports, or even board games. You can watch a movie, go to a concert, or enjoy relaxing with friends at the cafes and restaurants in the diverse Moscow green areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"St_Petersburg\"><\/span>St Petersburg<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>St Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It\u2019s known as the cultural centre of Russia, with venues such as the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art and the Mariinsky Theatre hosting ballet and opera. Its four central districts are only an hour away from every attraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you choose to move from the UK and live in St Petersburg, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy an alternative culture on the shore of the Gulf of Finland in the Vasileostrovsky district, which includes a skate park, artist and fashion studios, and weekend food markets and festivals that go late into the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to city rankings, St Petersburg is a good place to live, with high ratings in housing, cost of living and safety. Housing is also more affordable as salaries tend to be lower than in Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vladivostok\"><\/span>Vladivostok<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Vladivostok is located on the border of Russia and East Asia and has many opportunities for hiking and watersports if you\u2019re looking for a new home near plenty of outdoor activities. It offers a truly unique experience where western and eastern cultures meet, with a historic charm and beautiful natural surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commercial fishing and ship engineering are its primary industries, alongside energy and food production. It\u2019s also the leading centre of education and science with dozens of higher education institutions. For students interested in the Far East and its development potential, Vladistock is an excellent choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of living for expats is low, healthcare facilities are generally good, and household accommodation is plentiful and reasonable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Irkutsk\"><\/span>Irkutsk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This important city in Eastern Siberia is the region&#8217;s administrative, economic, scientific and cultural centre. As an expat moving from the UK, you may find work in accountancy, architecture, dentistry, or engineering, just a few job opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Irkutsk is also known for its beautifully preserved wooden architecture, with a wealth of museums and theatres and an active youth culture. The city is served by the Irkutsk International Airport and the Trans-Siberian Highway and Railway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lake Baikal, less than 200 miles away, is the largest freshwater lake by volume and the deepest lake in the world, Famous for its crystal clear waters and unique wildlife, and the only freshwater seal in the world is found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kazan\"><\/span>Kazan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kazan is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Republic of Tatarstan. It\u2019s also one of Russia&#8217;s largest industrial and financial centres, with the main industries being mechanical engineering, chemical, and food. Factors determining Kazan as a Top-10 city include developed infrastructure, a good ecological environment, and convenient transport links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost of living for an expat moving from the UK to live in Kazan is very low compared to other places in the world. With its rich nature of picturesque parks, forests, rivers, and lakes, the thousand-year-old historic city combines perfectly with modernity. This makes Kazan one of the best cities for life in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_few_other_nice_Russian_cities_to_live_in_as_an_expat\"><\/span>A few other nice Russian cities to live in as an expat<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Other cities in Russia are more rural and don\u2019t have the same job opportunities, but these areas are often developing and well worth considering moving to whilst accommodation prices are still low. 5 out of 10 of Europe\u2019s fastest-growing cities are in Russia!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a closer look at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Balashikha\"><\/span>Balashikha<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This suburb of Moscow is one large residential area with new areas being actively built there and more people relocating from worldwide locations. Apartments are cheaper, and a metro station links it directly to the capital. Job opportunities include developing manufacturing operations and sales representation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tyumen\"><\/span>Tyumen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>More than 816,000 people live in this Siberian city, which is constantly growing. Many oil and gas companies have headquarters and offices here, so work is plentiful. Tyumen has repeatedly been ranked as one of the most comfortable cities to live in Russia, taking into account incomes, expenses, the quality of the urban environment and the climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sochi\"><\/span>Sochi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sochi is one of the most popular cities in Russia for expats to move to from the UK. it\u2019s one of the hottest cities in the county with warm winters and is a haven for millions of domestic tourists annually. Employment opportunities in tourism, IT, and oil are bountiful but not particularly well paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check also:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-poland\/\">Best Places to Live in Poland<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-estonia\/\">Best Places to Live in Estonia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/best-places-to-live-in-finland\/\">Best Places to Live in Finland<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cities_and_places_you_should_avoid\"><\/span>Cities and places you should avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As in any country, there are places which visiting may be dangerous. Look at five locations in Russia that you should stay away from!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kyzyl\"><\/span>Kyzyl<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Known as Russia\u2019s most dangerous city with violent crimes and murders 35 killings per 100,000 residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Karabash\"><\/span>Karabash<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With mountains poisoned by copper smelting, toxic sludge and black ranges of slag dumps, this is a requiem for ecology to bypass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Norilsk\"><\/span>Norilsk<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>his area was used to produce heavy metals, and its legacy is black snow and sulphur-smelling air. It\u2019s now an environmental hazard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Acidic_Lake\"><\/span>Acidic Lake<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Situated in the volcano&#8217;s crater Maly Semyachik this deadly dangerous bright-turquoise-coloured lake was formed by a powerful underground explosion. As a result, the water has an abundance of sulphur, fluoride, chloride, and sulphate acids. Swimming in the lake is not advised!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cta_container_holder\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"title\">Moving to Russia?<br \/>Let Fantastic Removals handle the international relocation for you!<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/contact-us\/\" class=\"btn-regular btn-gfq\">Contact Us<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info_text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For questions about the services we offer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/\">visit our main site<\/a> or you can always call us at <a href=\"tel:\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Takeaways\"><\/span>Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-red-check\">\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>The expat community in many cities is close-knit giving you the opportunity to make friends quickly and easily.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>There are many different types of accommodation with several international compounds available for expats providing sports facilities and other social activities.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>The Russian government has made it easier to work legally as an expat without any bureaucratic obstacles if you have a job offer.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>The work-life balance is favourable as there\u2019s lots of vacation time and a more relaxed atmosphere as Russian colleagues are friendly and team members.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Health care is of a high standard and many private medical centres have well-trained English speaking doctors.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Public transport systems are clean, safe, efficient, and fast. Choose to take the metro, bus, trolleybus, or tram options. It\u2019s very easy to get around without a car.<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"icon-check\"><\/i>Russia is the number one county to start a career according to recent news reports!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russia is a big country with a lot of different cities, each with its charm. A look at the best cities to live in Russia, highlighting their distinctive features, quality of life, and why they&#8217;re so popular. Russia is known for its great culture and world-class museums and is home to some of the world&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":12997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[496,623],"class_list":{"0":"post-12729","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-moving-abroad","8":"tag-guide","9":"tag-international"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12729"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21669,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12729\/revisions\/21669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12729"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fantastic-removals.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}