How Much Does It Cost To Rent An Apartment In Moscow?

If you plan to rent an apartment in Moscow, you are probably wondering how much does it really cost?

What kind of problems do foreigners face when they are looking for an apartment to rent in Moscow? And what is the solution?

Three Things You Need to Know about the Price of Renting an Apartment in Moscow:

It is often difficult for foreigners to find budget range apartments for rent in Moscow. Here’s why: It is very difficult to find an apartment for rent in Moscow for anywhere under the 35,000 ₽/month range, and if you are a foreigner it is nearly impossible. If you see an offer in this range or lower, be very careful- if it seems to good to be true then it probably is. The blunt truth is, if you are a foreigner, it is much more difficult to rent an apartment in Moscow in the economy budget range than if you were a Russian. This might not feel fair, but there is a real reason. According to Russian law, the owner is required to register you and isn’t eager for that headache if he (or she) knows that they can quickly rent out their apartment to a Russia, minus the red tape. If you find a foreigner-friendly landlord for a budget-friendly apartment for rent in Moscow, you might need to compromise just a bit on location or interior. Simply put, finding a foreigner-friendly landlord is crucial and can make your time in Moscow much more enjoyable.

2. Location is NOT everything!

You might be surprised to learn that location often affects the price less than the type of building that the apartment is in. For example, an apartment in the Rosinka, located outside the city, or Pokrovsky Hills apartment complex, close to the Anglo-American school can easily cost in the 600,000₽/month range, but a small apartment just around the corner from the Kremlin can be easily found in the 130,000₽/month range or that you can find a 1-bedroom apartment in an upscale building just down the street from Moskva-City for 110,000₽/month.

3.CIAN is a good way to learn and test what the real prices are.

This site, which is available in Russian, is not perfect, but has a strong accountability system for the real estate agents that use its services that strongly discourages the posting of any unrealistic ads. There are MANY other sites and real estate agency sites (!) that have unrealistic ads and pricing, simply so that you will call. Again, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. For price comparison, stick with CIAN.

The problem with CIAN is that it does not differentiate between foreign-friendly owners and those owners who simply aren’t up for the extra work of working with a foreign tenant, whether it be due to the legal issues, or simply the language barrier. It can easily take 20-50 (!) phone calls to find a single foreigner-friendly apartment for rent in Moscow. Not to mention the fact that often the person answering the phone on a CIAN ad does not speak Russian.

What is the solution?

It is because of this situation that Expat Flat decided to begin creating a database, FREE of charge, for any foreigner-friendly landlord. We offer our own Moscow apartment rental listings, but also make it available for any landlord to share their apartment directly with you. Since Expat Flat was founded by expats and built with you in mind, we are working hard to make a product that will make finding your home in Moscow simple and efficient.

So, whether you are looking for a penthouse apartment downtown or a budget-friendly studio on the Moscow city outskirts, we look forward to making you at home in this huge, beautiful, and amazing city. If you are having trouble with your apartment search, you are very welcome to try our flat-finder service, or contact us and let us know what you are looking for.

We look forward to making you at home in Moscow! Welcome to Russia!

Psst… Tired of renting? Or maybe looking to make some rental income yourself? Why not join the growing number of foreigners who are making the decision to buy real estate in Russia? Learn more here.

Have a question for Andy about renting an apartment in Moscow? Contact him with this form, or use the chatbox on the bottom of this page!

Expat Flat founder Andy Frecka is a native of Ohio in the USA and together with his wife and four children has made Russia his home for the past 20 years. Andy’s mission is to connect you with Russia’s foreigner-friendly landlords, and to offer a Western-style and English language real estate service at local Russian rates. Andy looks forward to discussing with you how you can reach your real estate goals in Russia!

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