Overview
Moscow is the capital and the largest city of Russia. Moscow is one of largest city economies in Europe and it comprises approximately 20% of Russian GDP. Russia is in Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean. The climate ranges from humid continental in much of European Russia, subarctic in Siberia, to tundra climate in the polar north. The official language is Russian. The younger generation commonly speak English, but the language barrier can be a problem with older business people and an interpreter is generally needed. French and German are the most commonly spoken languages after English. Knowledge of the Cyrillic script is essential for reading the names of streets and metro stations. The main religions are Christianity and Islam. The economy of Russia is the eighth largest economy in the world by nominal value and the sixth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of Russian exports abroad. In Russia dinners often involve a series of toasts, guests are generally expected to offer a reciprocal toast. Formal business dress is considered a sign of authority. The security risk for expatriates in Russia is medium to high, but extreme for The North Caucasus. Risks include petty crime and poor infrastructure including roads, while violent crime involving expatriates is rare. Additional risks in the North Caucasus include conflict between security forces and militants, and kidnapping. The currency of Russia is the Russian Rouble (RUB). US dollars or Euros are best for exchange in Russia at banks, hotels and airport exchange bureaux. Most hotels, restaurants and larger shops accept credit cards. ATMs are available in most major cities. Medical facilities vary but are generally good, however the cost of treatment for expatriates can be high. Air quality in Moscow can worsen in certain weather conditions. The population of Moscow is 12.2 Million (2018 est.), while the inflation rate (CPI) is 5% for Russia as at January 2019. Xpatulator Hypothetical Tax for Russia is based on the current personal income tax rate which is a flat rate of 13%.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Moscow as at 1 January 2019 is very high in comparison to other places in the world. In Moscow, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports): 1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: High 2) Clothing: Very High 3) Communication: Very Low 4) Education: Very Low 5) Furniture & Appliances: Very High 6) Groceries: Very High 7) Healthcare: High 8) Household Accommodation: Very High 9) Miscellaneous: High 10) Personal Care: Average 11) Recreation & Culture: High 12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Very High 13) Transport: Average Moscow is for example 66.2% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 98.2% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and 39.6% more expensive for transport costs than Dubai.Moscow is ranked as a high degree of hardship location. The hardship premium for Moscow for an expat from Perth, is for example 20%, i.e. host location (Moscow) premium of 30% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.Want to know more about cost of living, hardship (quality of living) or expat salary in Moscow? Register subscribe to your home location and Moscow and run your personalised reports.