Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It depends on what you are looking for. Single men dating Russian women have a good time. People with families who are not overly worried about what might happen given international events have a good time. If the possibility of bad things happening or being monitored by the host nation causes you a lot of stress this probably isn't the post for you. - Dec 2023
Yes for both. For those with kids the school is a natural draw. It's a good school, and a good community. - Nov 2018
Yes on all accounts. - Oct 2017
I think it is good for everyone. - Sep 2016
Good for families. I would assume good for singles and couples as well. - May 2016
This is an excellent posting for single men and women. Also great for couples, as long as both have the right spirit, and works very well for families with young kids too, provided they are ready to meet the considerable expenses involved in raising a child in Moscow. If you have a grown-up child, bear in mind the need for him or her to have basic Russian skills to enjoy Moscow. - Sep 2015
It isn't the greatest assignment for a single person - male or female. However, there are a lot of activities at the Embassy and within the community. - Jun 2015
In my opinion it's a great city for all three demographics. The single men certainly were able to find dates each weekend and as a couple, there were so many entertainment options. The CLO was always trying to put things together for couples and families including the puppet theater and circus. - Oct 2014
Great city for everyone - there is something for everyone to do here. You'd have to try to be bored. - Nov 2013
Decent for all - CLO makes an effort to create family-friendly events. Fine for couples - lots to do around the city. It can be tough for singles - Russians aren't the most sociable bunch, so it will take work to build a network of friends. Probably harder for single females, who tend to date within the embassy/expat community. Slightly easier for single males, though the foreigner cache is diminished from the 1990's. Speaking Russian helps, but Russians that don't speak English tend to be less interested in meeting foreigners. - Jul 2013
Good for everyone in my opinion. The lack of green space may be an issue for families with young children. Most Moscovites live in apartments and take their children to the parks for fresh air. - Jul 2013
Great for families...rough for singles, especially men, who suddenly become 10 times better looking when they get off the plane. - Jan 2013
Yes to all. Single guys fare better than single women (there's a Russian saying that "if he loves her he will beat her" which might dissuade expat women from dating locally too much), but there's a lot to do and explore for everyone. Visa-seekers are a well-known phenomenon. - Mar 2012
We've found it to be good for our family, and my single and couple friends seem to like it, too. There are a lot of clubs and restaurants, but they're expensive. We do a lot things in our neighborhood, and that's very family friendly. - May 2011
Singles and couples can do fine. For families with school-age kids, activities center around the school and its extra-curricular offerings. - Jan 2011
This city is a paradise for single men. The gender roles here are very traditional, and Russian women have very traditional ideas about marriage (earlier is better), work (she cooks/cleans/raises kids; he works), and social dynamics. Combine this with a "unique" sense of fashion, and most expat men have a good time. Couples can enjoy the city, provided they can find friends and activities. It's not that the city is unfriendly to couples, but single men tend to have the most fun. As for families, I understand that the Anglo-American school is good. - Jul 2010
I know some of each type that have enjoyed it. - May 2010
For single men - yes. For families - yes. For single women - eh, it was okay. Don't come here if your marriage is shaky. I personally saw several marriages and gay couples broken-up during this tour. It is very easy for men and lesbian women to find one-night stands with the Russian women. - May 2010
Yes, although better I think for families, people already in relationships, and single men. The last often date Russian women, but the attractive local male options for foreign women are limited. - Feb 2010
good for all. For families with small children, the conventional wisdom is that it is much better to live on the Embassy compound or the distant living communities of Rosinka and Pokrovsky hills for safety's sake. - Jan 2010
I am cut off from Moscow life out here in the 'burbs. I can see that a lot of family rarely go into Moscow at all who live in Pokrovsky or Rosinka. But, there is a small town feel out here that's nice. So no Moscow life stuff. But great neighborhood stuff. Depends what you want. Me? I want it all! But I'm okay with the compromise. No, my husband and I have not got good restaurants to choose from (a few, but not nearly what you'd have downtown) and my kids are just old enough to be left alone for a few hours, but no more than that, but they are too old to have a babysitter. It's the dark zone of child care needs when they are in middle school! Since a Moscow dinner would take four hours minimum, so we don't have Moscow in-town date nights. - Nov 2009
Families: tons to do--circus, ballet, zoo within walking distance of the NEC, easy life-style. Singles: tons to do, beautiful women, the men? Age fast. Couples, yes, TONS to do, restaurants, the best arts in the world. Like living in a very white NYC, and service with a scowl. - Oct 2009
There is something for everyone here, but it is easier for single men than women. - Aug 2009
I think it's a good place for families, but just beware of the commute you (or your kids going to school) may have because it might cut into family time. Otherwise, families seem to be doing well there. It's a good place for couples. Moscow is a playground for single men because the women are gorgeous. Single women don't seem to gain much from being there in terms of dating. - Aug 2009
Great for families and single guys. - Jul 2009
This is definitely a good city for young people in general, regardless of whether they are single or married. - Sep 2008
As long as you know some Russian, don't mind some physical aggression, a high cost of living and traffic, it can be a fine city for singles, couples and families. - Aug 2008
