Where can you move to in Russia?

After the advent of remote work, many people have decided to move away from the hustle and bustle of big cities to other regions. What regions might be suitable for you if you want to live in a comfortable, but small city?

A selection of the most interesting cities and regions of Russia for living (and none of the capitals!).

Nizhniy Novgorod

An old trading city in Central Russia with a well-maintained center and lively atmosphere. Nizhny Novgorod hosts numerous festivals, holidays and events. It has a convenient public transport system (subway, tram), branch offices of the best Moscow universities, countless restaurants and places for walking.

After the improvements for the 800-year anniversary of the city of Nizhny Novgorod, it landed in many lists of the best cities to live in Russia when it comes to urban layout and availability of infrastructure.

Housing prices in Nizhny Novgorod are more attractive than in the capital city. The average price per square meter in new buildings is around 130 thousand rubles, which is 2-3 times less than in Moscow.

Krasnodar Krai

One of the fastest growing regions of the country. The region has plenty of places to live: from large cities like Sochi and Krasnodar, to small towns like Gelendzhik or Tuapse.

In the region there is modern infrastructure (new trains, good roads), service and customer service levels comparable to those of the capital cities, and a warm climate and southern nature that will make you fall in love with this place.

The drawbacks of Krasnodar Region can include the high volume of tourists during the summer, which can be uncomfortable for those who stay year-round, as well as the risk of flooding or other natural disasters.

Housing prices in the region are quite high, comparable to Moscow's - around 350 thousand rubles per sq. m.

Altai

Almost an untouched corner of nature in Siberia. Every year more and more people visit this slow region, where you can enjoy the unique nature. Among the unique places worth mentioning are the Kyzyl-Chin Valley, the Multinskie Lakes, the Altai State Nature Reserve.

Due to its blue waters and high mountains, this place is sometimes referred to as 'Russian Switzerland'. It is an ideal option for those who appreciate the mountains and nature, but at the same time do not like the hustle and bustle of cities and crowds of tourists.

The growing popularity of the region stimulates the renewal of cities: for example in Barnaul they are updating public transport and a large amount of new housing has already been built, and in Gorno-Altaysk the construction of a new airport is expected.

The average cost per square meter of housing in Altai Krai is around 95 thousand rubles.

Volgograd

A city with a pleasant Southern climate comparable to the climate of the Krasnodar region (average summer temperature 28 degrees). The width of the Volga and the humidity of the air creates the feeling of life by the sea, while Volgograd itself is rich in attractions and entertainment. The city has a convenient underground tram, and the local embankment will be an ideal place for a walk in any weather.

There are a lot of universities, schools, hospitals, and high-level stores in Volgograd. The living conditions here are suitable for people of all ages, which will be appreciated by many families.

The square meter price for housing here is around 85,000 rubles, making the region accessible for residents from most of the country.

Tatarstan

The Republic of Tatarstan is famous for its approach to landscaping, with many cities from Almetyevsk to Kazan being praised for their modern urbanism and approach to city planning. For example, the Innopolis, one of the newest scientific cities in Russia, is located there.

Tatarstan's capital is often referred to as the “third capital” of Russia, and there are many reasons for this! Kazan has an ancient Kremlin and a beautiful historical center, and the number and scale of events held here is truly comparable to those in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In Tatarstan itself there are many nature parks, such as the Blue Lakes or the Vyazovskie Mountains.

The average cost per square meter here is around 155 thousand rubles.

Kaliningrad

The westernmost region of Russia is unique for its history and location. Kaliningrad draws visitors for its unique Baltic scenery (e.g. the Curonian Spit) and German heritage (Fort Denhoff or Königsberg Cathedral).

If you need to travel around Russia frequently, Kaliningrad Oblast is not for you: it is not as convenient and fast to get here by plane or car as it is from other parts of the country.

However, its location within Europe gives it its advantages: local residents can easily travel to neighboring countries. Even with the restrictions introduced from 2022, Kaliningrad residents can travel to Lithuania and transit to other EU countries.

There is a variety of coastal settlements in the region, suitable for living; Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk and other towns will quickly make you fall in love with the Baltic region.

The cost per sq. m. here is 95 thousand rubles. Due to the crisis and imposed restrictions, real estate prices have dropped, which can be a good investment for the future.