Moscow, Russia Report of what it's like to live there - 03/04/19
Personal Experiences from Moscow, Russia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No. I've also lived in other European posts.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Washington DC. There is a direct flight on Delta/Aeroflot parts of the year, which is about 9.5 hours, great. Otherwise about 13 hours with connection time.
3. How long have you lived here?
Lived in Moscow for two years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
US Embassy.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
We lived in an apartment in the city. It was 3 bedrooms and plenty big for our family. There were various types of homes throughout Moscow, from people living in city apartments to living near the American school (townhomes).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Grocery stores had a lot more than I was expecting. Basics were always available, and in the summer produce was wonderful with green markets throughout town. In the winter the fruit selection was seasonal. You could buy berries in December, but you would pay. There are many grocery stores throughout town. I wouldn't talk to anyone who hasn't been to Moscow recently as the selection in grocery stores now is fantastic whereas ten years ago it wasn't; so outdated information should be avoided.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
I think the only food items we shipped to post or had family send us were bulk items like Kind bars or things from Trader Joes/Whole Foods that we missed instead of needed. There wasn't really anything that you couldn't find, even tortillas!
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Food delivery is available for pretty much all types of cuisine. Moscow has a vibrant food scene, which is only growing. The things I missed, were fast casual options that weren't fast food. In Moscow it seemed to me that it was either fast food or you were sitting down at a restaurant. I sense that will change in the coming years. There are great food options in Moscow, from Georgian food, which is very popular to Thai, Indian, etc, etc.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
We had no issues with bugs in our home and were in an old building.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
US Embassy mail.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
We had a housekeeper and I believe we paid US$9-10 an hour.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are gyms available on the local economy. There is a Golds Gym, Crossfit gyms throughout town, many options for working out.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes, widely available usage of credit cards. I used credit cards at larger locations; if the store was a tiny, one off, I would use cash.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There are religious services available for different faiths. I would think this comes down to a persons comfort level in seeking out and attending.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
For as large of a city as Moscow is, I think having even basic Russian is extremely helpful. Many times no one spoke English. All restaurants in the city center have english menus (for the most part). I would suggest learning the Cyrillic alphabet.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Moscow would be a difficult city for persons with limited mobility or with a physical disability. Many times to cross the streets, you have to go down and up stairs to cross beneath the roads (which is handy, but not with physical limitations). The Metro system is fantastic, but again, often have to use stairs.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
There is Uber, Yandex, and taxis. The bus system is great and the Metro is amazing.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
We had a large SUV and had no issues with it being too big. You will see cars of all sizes. While the winters are very snowy, the Moscow metro areas is very well cleared.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Internet works well, was fast enough for us to do whatever we wanted. We didn't have any sort of outage issues. We used Yota, which was a small portable wifi device we used to home; purchased at the mall and paid for six months at a time. Ended up going this route bc getting it set up through a company was a huge pain. This worked well for us and I know many others who went this route.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
We got MTC sim cards and so easy. You can pay your bill around town at kiosks. A fraction of what cell phone plans cost in the states for wifi plans. Can use any unlocked cell phone.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
The vet care was wonderful in Moscow (do your research to find a recommended vet), and much cheaper than the States.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Street wear in Moscow was much more casual than I was expecting. There are definitely fashion forward areas and venues but I never felt like I needed to dress up to feel like I didn't stick out. If you go out to dinner you will see a wide range of casual to very dressy.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
I think it is always important to be aware of your surroundings. I was not more concerned about my safety in Moscow than I would be in any large US city. I felt safer walking around in Moscow than most large cities.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
The European Medical Center has great medical care. I believe there are tick-borne illnesses in Russia. I would seek this advice from a travel center before arriving.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
I didn't notice any air quality issues I would let others know about before traveling. We used a humidifier throughout the winter, which was many months.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
We did not have any food limitations, but I did notice gluten-free products as well as dairy free offerings at super markets.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
There is definitely a lack of sunlight many months of the year. We were not impacted in my home, but I know the winter blues were discussed. Seasonal lamps can be used.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Winter is long. The city is beautiful during the winter, with lights adorning many of the city streets. For me, when it is cold, you just layer and go on with life, which was what my experience was throughout the city. Families are still out and about during the winter and parks are used all year. It wasn't so much the cold that impacted me but the lack of light that I think has more of an impact. Be prepared for darkness.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
No experience personally, but the American school (from what I saw and heard) was wonderful.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
We were with the embassy community, which was wonderful. I imagine one of the strongest across the world.
2. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
We enjoyed Moscow. We tried to get out and see as much of the city as we could. It is a huge city, and more, Russia is a vast country with many different, wonderful, amazing gems of cities. Get out and explore. The history is endless and the architecture is beautiful. Culture is rich and you will never run out of museums, cathedrals and estates to visit.
3. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
If you like to shop you won't be disappointed. Moscow offers a wide array of shopping from everyday brands to every high end luxury brand you can think of.
4. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Easy public transportation.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Get out and see the city. I was intimidated to go to Moscow based on what other people told me and once I arrived that went away. You can find whatever you need at grocery stores, shopping in available, there are big nice movie theaters with english language, and the every day people were very friendly. Enjoy the city, explore outside of the city center!!
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Bathing suits; just kidding, take them on vacation.
4. But don't forget your:
Good winter coats and boots, but don't go crazy. No need for shoes spikes or any other weird accessory.
