Living and working in Moscow is not much different from living in other big cities, with the difference that Moscow is the northernmost city in the world with millions of inhabitants. With its 12 million inhabitants and a large area, Moscow is a huge city. Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, some foreigners have left Moscow, but still many foreigners live in Moscow.
One feature that sets Moscow apart from many other cities is that almost all Muscovites live in large buildings. Small condominiums are almost non-existent. However, Moscow has more parks and green spaces than any other city of its size. Almost half of the total area is devoted to public green spaces, which offer residents many opportunities to escape the chaos of the city and enjoy nature.
However, Moscow has more parks and green spaces than any other city of its size. Almost half of the total area is devoted to public green spaces, which offer residents many opportunities to escape the chaos of the city and enjoy nature.
The suburbs consist mainly of dormitories. Apart from the big shopping malls, there isn’t much to do, and most people go to the city center to have fun. The city center, on the other hand, is fabulous with many attractions for all, museums, a lively nightlife, new skyscrapers, fascinating old buildings and parks.
Public transportation is good and is constantly being improved. The metro is very reliable and efficient, but at rush hour it is very crowded. Moscow is known for its high traffic volume, so the metro is often the fastest way to get around. The only drawback of the metro, which also has nice stations, is the lack of access for the disabled or people with mobility problems.
The roads are chaotic and traffic jams are a constant nuisance. Moscow is one of the most congested cities in the world, and it’s not uncommon to be stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours. The city simply wasn’t designed for the explosive growth of the vehicle fleet after the collapse of communism. The best excuse for being late in Moscow is “I was stuck in traffic”
Living in Moscow means getting used to the climate. Winters are quite long and cold. Spring is usually fabulous and summer on the other hand, can be very hot.
In Moscow you can meet people of all ages, nationalities and opinions. People are usually friendly and open to foreigners but everything is very fast. Everyone is in a hurry. Many stores work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, most of the time. You can find what you need at any time of the day or night.
In Moscow, appearance is important. One must dress expensively and have a car. After all, every successful person must have his own flat and a car. The place where you live also determines your social and financial status, and people will judge you by where you live. The closer to the city center, the better. Drivers see themselves as first-class citizens. Owning a prestigious car is a status symbol. Therefore, it is better to buy a large used car than a new small car Visiting a gym is also prestigious. There are many gyms in Moscow, and membership is often expensive.
Unfortunately, Moscow is not so cheap for people with unskilled job or low and poor pensions. Life in Moscow is very expensive. You can compare it with the prices in London. Rents are also high, the central areas are unaffordable.
Living and working in Moscow without knowing Russian is difficult; it is possible in some fields such as finance, foreign language teaching, hospitality or other highly specialized professions in multinational companies in Moscow. If you have relatively low qualifications and do not speak Russian, it will be difficult to find a job in Moscow.
Moscow is nice if you live in a good neighborhood of the city. If you live on the outskirts, in a studio in a apartment block, with no metro stop nearby, and it takes you two hours a day to get to work on old, rusty streetcars, crammed into the crowds, it might be a little less nice.
For all the information on how to work in Russia, I recommend you to read the article: Working in Russia
On the other hand, if you want more information on how to move to Russia, I recommend you to read the article: Moving to Russia
