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 !

**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...