Seeking room/apartment in Moscow - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Esterina** · 01-29-2007, 07:59 AM

I'm looking for a room or an apartment to rent for less than $1000/month, around metro Novobodoskaya if possible, from May until August.

Help !

Please PM if you have any information. Thanks.

**TheJake** · 01-29-2007, 10:02 AM

I may be ignorant but that seems like an awful lot of money for an apartment in russia...

**Esterina** · 01-29-2007, 10:49 AM

Jake dear, I too was surprised when I started looking for a place to stay... but Moscow became last year (after I was given the scolarship) the most expensive city in the WORLD for expats ! An average 2 room apartment in the center costs about 2500 Euros (some $3000).

For $1000, it's normally far from center (I was offered a place at 90 minutes by metro away from the center) or in quartiers where I don't want my child to be... Rent doubled within less than two years.

Since I am not allowed to stay in residences, because of my child, it seems I'll have to get a lot poorer. If I can't find, I guess I'll have to cancel.

I still have two months to find... *crossing fingers*

**TheJake** · 01-29-2007, 11:15 AM

that's just straight up insane! How did it change? I was under the impression that russia was uber cheap.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-29-2007, 12:46 PM

Esther - I know you probably posted this already, but what are you studying in Russia?

Wow - those prices are high. I understand a select few Russians got quite rich with some of the privatization that has gone on, but I wouldn't think enough to drive rents up like that. Are those rents only for foreigners? I can't imagine there are enough Russians that make enough money to afford those rents. Even Hong Kong isn't quite that bad. Jeez. At least the Vodka should be cheap. You might need it! Good luck!

**Esterina** · 01-29-2007, 01:40 PM

Thanks for your words guys ! :D

Jamie, I probably haven't posted about it yet, I haven't been often on the boards in the past months. I-am-bu-zy (school, kid, student associations, and now organising this mess up trip to Moscou) !

I'm currently engaged in a 3-year program in International Studies and Modern Languages, specialisation : project management in developing countries. I'm heading for a career, hopefully, in Asia and in the ex-sovietic countries, so I'm learning russian. My scolarship in Russia is to improve my russian skills and knowledge of the country. But my! is it a problem now organising everything (because of my child otherwise I'd be staying in the residence for free!).

Jake, what happened is that most russians were given their apartment (or sold for a few bucks) at the fall of the Iron Curtain. They started renting their place to foreigners and within a few years, a shortage in low budget flats occured. That goes for Moscow and St.Petersburg especially, not the rest of Russia. It's absolutely crazy : I contacted someone who had an apartment to rent for about 25 Euros per night, but the add was outdated : she's now renting it for $200 per night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For your info, Moscow is the city where there is the highest number of billionnaires and second for millionaires IN THE WORLD! Yet, severe poverty is still a problem, the % of population under the poverty level is at the same point as in London, so not as bad at all as we hear. But of course regular Moscovits pay less than expats for the rent.

I guess in the end, I'll have a great time there, just as long as I don't go bankrupt... And yep, vodka is cheap !

**BigE** · 01-29-2007, 02:09 PM

This would probably be a bad idea, but how 'bout you marry a billionaire and take his money.

**aliz** · 01-29-2007, 02:11 PM

It shouldnt matter if you're too far away from the centre as the metro system as absolutely awesome. And I can understand your rent being so expensive, as many many russians kept telling me, there are prices for russians, and there are prices for tourists. crazy country that. but have fun.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-30-2007, 07:00 AM

Wow Esther, you have a lot on your plate. I applaud your courage and your drive! Good luck with trying to make this work and stay positive!

**Esterina** · 01-31-2007, 01:02 PM

Thanks Jamie !

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliz

It shouldnt matter if you're too far away from the centre as the metro system as absolutely awesome. And I can understand your rent being so expensive, as many many russians kept telling me, there are prices for russians, and there are prices for tourists. crazy country that. but have fun.

Indeed, double standards... I've started using my little knowledge of russian to seek on russians pages. There is a difference of price but not as much as I had expected. Unless you don't mind sharing your room with roaches and rats. *sigh*

As per the metro, all expats and Russians I was able to contact told me to avoid it as much as possible because, although schedule wise reliable, it is a pain to travel there with children. Too crowded.

Quote:

This would probably be a bad idea, but how 'bout you marry a billionaire and take his money.

I guess that's the best solution !

**Canadian Dude** · 02-16-2007, 05:07 PM

This is totaly not helping you find a place to rest your head, but here is link you for the most expensive cities in the world

I a surprised as well, man they must be doing alright since the wall fell...

**aliz** · 02-16-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atchoum

As per the metro, all expats and Russians I was able to contact told me to avoid it as much as possible because, although schedule wise reliable, it is a pain to travel there with children. Too crowded.

hmm yes, children could easily get lost. but when they get older I highly recommend it, then, when they go to their first rock concert, they'll have no problems getting to the front of the stage cause mosh pits are nothing compared to getting out of a moscow metro station at peak hour

**Esterina** · 02-22-2007, 01:54 PM

^^^

Good point !

Bob, I know of this list, and posted it somewhere on the boards already. A lot of cities upthere surprised me, beginning with Moscow. Who would have thougth that Kiev, Lagos, Lusaka (Zambia) or Douala (Cameroon) came before Toronto !

**LiveFreeorDie** · 02-22-2007, 02:05 PM

^I have noticed during my travels to Asia that there appear to be signficant numbers of russian tourists wandering about so they must be doing okay.

I witnessed this one Russian girl in Thailand raising hell with the wait staff of a local restaurant in Phuket because she wanted to pay for her meal in U.S. dollars and also receive change in U.S. dollars because she was heading back to Moscow the following day and didn't want to deal with exchanging currency. Apparently even now USD is widely used as currency in Russia because the ruble(sp?) cannot be used outside the country? Is that right? Anyway, she was not exactly a shining example of a friendly traveler. Maybe americans will soon have some company under the 'Ugly' category.

**Esterina** · 02-22-2007, 02:15 PM

Are you trying to copy my avatar ?!

The girl was surely one of those socalled "new Russians", those new rich. They have bad reputation, they can't behave, they love to show their money by wearing expensive clothing, etc.

Yes, I recall well, it's illegal to own rubbles outside Russia. But that's not particular to Russia, several currencies aren't allowed outside their country.