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Expat guide: Moscow
This expat guide offers information and advice if you are moving to Moscow. Click on the different tabs to find out about anything from tax rules and banking to education and cultural highlights.
You can also read our expat guide to Russia.
Download this guide as a pdfMoving to Moscow
Moscow is an incredibly large, interesting and challenging city. One of the best ways to prepare for moving to Moscow is to learn some Russian and how to read Cyrillic. This will make your life a lot easier as you will be able to recognise signs and look up words in a dictionary when necessary.
While it is regularly listed as one of the most expensive cities in the world, Moscow can be somewhat underdeveloped and you will find yourself occasionally having to make a mental switch between life in the first and third worlds. If you have the money (and you are prepared to pay), it is possible to have a lavish lifestyle on a par with any major international city.
The city vies with St Petersburg for the title of 'Russian Cultural Capital', and while most would agree that St Petersburg deserves this title more, Moscow is by no means short of cultural activities and events. No visit to Moscow is complete without a trip to the Bolshoi Opera House, or to ballet performances at the Kremlin Palace. There are many fascinating museums in the city as well as wonderful architecture (particularly in the city centre). Some of Moscow’s most attractive features are the many public parks dotted throughout the city, which give it a more spacious and leafy feel. Going for a walk in the park is a daily habit for many Russians.
At first glance, some people find that Russians maintain a distant and uninvolved mask in public. This cultural perception is misleading. Upon greater interaction with the locals, people often find that Russian culture can be very warm-hearted, generous and romantic. There is some resentment towards expats who come to live a superior lifestyle in Moscow, so be prepared for some street-level negativity towards you.
Useful links:
- From an American in Russia: http://jondayres.blogspot.com/
- Further expat insights: www.globusworldwide.com
Shipping and removals
The Russian postal service can be rather unreliable and getting shipments through customs in Moscow is often very frustrating and time-consuming, not to mention costly. The best option is to use an international removals company. They will generally handle the customs side of the move and deliver your goods to your new home.
This content is provided by www.expatarrivals.com, copyright © 2011 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Bupa International can be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any loss, damage, illness and/or injury that may occur as a result of this information.
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