10 best cities in Russia in terms of living standards

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

The question “Who lives well in Russia?” worries Russians, probably from the very moment the state was founded. And this is not surprising, because everyone wants comfort, safety, convenient urban infrastructure and – which is absolutely desirable – a high level of income. But it turns out that for all this good it is not at all necessary to move to conditional Canada. In Russia, there are also many cities in which to live well, at ease and at ease.

Especially for those who are already ready to move to the nearest comfortable metropolis, we have compiled a rating of the 10 best cities in terms of living standards. Social research was used to identify the leaders, and parameters such as safety, cleanliness, environmental friendliness, transport infrastructure, cultural and entertainment component, housing and communal services and, of course, profitability were checked.

It should be noted that only millionaire cities were included in the rating. Because hardly anyone is ready to move to Nizhnevartovsk to improve the quality of life. But in vain.

Rating of the best cities in Russia in terms of living standards

Nomination	a place	town	rating
Rating of the best cities in Russia in terms of living standards	10	Nizhny Novgorod	6.9 / 10
	9	Voronezh	7.0 / 10
	8	Ufa	7.1 / 10
	7	Novosibirsk	7.1 / 10
	6	Permian	7.2 / 10
	5	Yekaterinburg	7.2 / 10
	4	Kazan	7.2 / 10
	3	St. Petersburg	7.5 / 10
	2	Krasnodar	7.6 / 10
	1	Moscow	7.6 / 10
What about small towns?

10th place: Nizhny Novgorod

Ranking of the city for living standards: 6.9 / 10

Nizhny Novgorod is an ancient, cozy and very beautiful city. It is the capital and at the same time the largest settlement in the Volga region. Economics and production, science and culture are concentrated here. In addition, tourists love to travel to Nizhny Novgorod, since the city has a rich history and a huge number of architectural monuments. Even the French philosopher, poet and thinker Théophile Gaultier spoke positively about the city.

But French romantics are one thing, and pragmatic Russians are another. Should you move to Nizhny Novgorod? Below are the average indicators:

1. Purchase price of real estate – 60-70 thousand rubles. per m2. Very much depends on the metro station. The most expensive living space is on Moskovskaya, the cheapest is on Komsomolskaya;
2. The cost of renting an apartment is 15 thousand rubles. per month. The cheapest is to live on Kirovskaya, the most expensive is to live on Gorkovskaya;
3. Salary – 33.6 thousand rubles. per month. Builders receive the most, teachers receive less.
4. Novgorodians note a low level of cleanliness on the streets (however, this is a problem in almost any city in Russia), but they report a large number of cultural and entertainment centers.

9th place: Voronezh

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.0 / 10

Voronezh is an amazing millionaire city. It is comfortable, cozy and green. It is calm, quiet and pleasant here. You can and should walk in the city, since beautiful views of architecture open up from anywhere. In addition, Voronezh will appeal to fans of green cities – where else in a metropolis can you find central streets where the sky is simply not visible due to dense tree crowns? And what kind of park is there …

The standard of living is also pretty good. Below are the average financial indicators that will tell you whether to pack your bags and go to this amazing city:

1. Buying an apartment – 50 thousand rubles. per m2. For some reason, there is no metro in this regional capital, so prices depend on the distance from the center;
2. Housing rental – 15 thousand rubles. per month. Likewise, the closer the apartment is to the center and the newer the building, the more expensive it will cost to stay;
3. Salary – 38 thousand rubles. per month. Specialists in the field of transport, construction and real estate receive the most. But IT specialists were not lucky, they had better choose some other settlement.
4. Voronezh residents speak negatively about the safety and crime situation in their hometown, but they are satisfied with their income – you can live on patches, and sometimes even not bad.

8th place: Ufa

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.1 / 10

Ufa is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, one of the largest economic, scientific and cultural centers in the country. There are many high-class universities in this city, the education in which will cost much less than in any of Moscow. Therefore, it is not surprising that many adequate students (especially IT specialties) move to Ufa.

But if you can be patient during your studies – all the more so with delicious, hearty and inexpensive local cuisine – then what to do after university? Is it worth moving to Ufa and how to live here – in the language of dry average indicators:

1. If you want to acquire your own real estate, you should prepare about 72.6 thousand rubles. per m2. There is no metro in the city, so prices vary depending on the quality of the house and the distance from the center;
2. Renting an apartment will cost about 20 tr. Depends on the number of rooms and the location of the house;
3. Salary – 42 thousand rubles. Employees in the field of construction and technical (engineering) specialties receive the most. But top managers will not be so at ease here.
4. Ufa residents are dissatisfied with the children's infrastructure, so this is not the best place for young parents. But they like safety and sports and entertainment centers. It is also worth noting that residents of Ufa do not consider their salaries high and suitable for a carefree life.

7th place: Novosibirsk

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.1 / 10

The real capital of Siberia, the economic and industrial center of the region, the city of Novosibirsk is the third largest city in Russia in terms of population. It owes much of its 'popularity' to the fact that the main transport routes connecting the west of the country with the east, including the Trans-Siberian Railway, pass through it. Therefore, Novosibirsk is not quite a suitable city for those who are looking for tranquility and solitude.

More recently, Novosibirsk has become famous even in America. Photographer Chris Herwig from the United States has released a book dedicated to the Soviet and Russian subways. And he called the Novosibirsk stations the most creative.

However, in this city it is good not only to ride the subway. Let's look at the average economic indicators:

1. Own living space will cost 4 million rubles. This is approximately 72.5 tr. per sq.m. The most expensive one is in the center, at the Lenin Square metro station. More budget options are located on the outskirts – Studencheskaya and Zolotaya Niva stations;
2. The rental space will cost 20 thousand rubles. It is most expensive to live on Lenin Square, but the budget conscious should look for an apartment on Marx Square and Zolotoy Niva;
3. The average salary is 37 thousand rubles. The city loves and appreciates IT people and executives, but advertisers and builders are better off looking at some other region.
4. Novosibirsk citizens do not consider their city safe enough. But they speak well about the level of cleanliness on the streets and the number of sports and entertainment centers.

6th place: Perm

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.2 / 10

Perm is primarily an industrial city. One of the largest production centers in the Urals! The city, however, is not very attractive for tourists, although it has a rich history. It has been industrial and industrial almost all the time of its existence, so there are no special attractions in it.

But we choose cities for life, not for romantic walks from one monument to another. Therefore, let's see what Perm can offer to migrants, using economic statistics:

1. Residential real estate is one of the cheapest in Russia. If you want to buy an apartment, then on average you will have to cook 3.2 million rubles. For a square meter – 57 thousand. Prices depend on the area (more precisely, from the coast – on the left property is a little more expensive than on the right);
2. But the rent is quite standard. Average in the city – 17 thousand rubles a month. For a one-room apartment they ask about 13 thousand, for a two-room apartment – already 19 thousand;
3. The average salary in Perm is 35 thousand rubles a month. Production specialists are most in demand. They also get the most. But it is better for IT specialists and marketers to look after another settlement.
4. Permyakov is definitely not happy with the quality of street cleaning. But they are satisfied with the silence in the city (which is rather strange for an industrial center) and safety. They think their salaries are good.

5th place: Yekaterinburg

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.2 / 10

Yekaterinburg is the cultural capital of the Urals. If Perm is an industrial center, then in this millionaire city you can enjoy unique music, painting, sculpture, theater and other areas of art. Of course, they may seem a little harsh (otherwise, you will not really enjoy life at a temperature of -30 in winter), but they have their own amazing, Ural beauty.

1. Yekaterinburg can be called a youth city. It is people under the age of 35 who will be able to fully appreciate the entire cultural and entertainment infrastructure. However, can Yekaterinburg be called a city for life – or is it better to go to neighboring Chelyabinsk for this? Let's look at the statistics:
2. Residential real estate is expensive. It costs more than other localities in the ranking. It is proposed to pay about 75,000 rubles per m2, and an average of 4.3 million rubles for an apartment. The most expensive real estate in the center is the metro stations Ploshchad 1905 Goda and Geologicheskaya, cheaper – at Uralmash station and Prospekt Kosmonavtov (in the industrial zone, in general);
3. The rent, too, cannot be called cheap. The average cost is 26,000 rubles. monthly (or about 18,000 rubles for one room). As in the case of the sale, those who want to live in the center – Ploshchad 1905 Goda and Dynamo stations – will have to fork out. And if you want to save money – welcome to the industrial zone;
4. The average salary is 45,000 rubles. Most of all are received by specialists in the field of insurance and real estate, but IT specialists and marketers will have to skip bread for Ivan tea. Professors and scientists also have good patches – so they should try to live in Yekaterinburg, if Moscow for some reason does not appeal.
5. Yekaterinburg residents are satisfied with the ecological situation and cleanliness of the city, as well as the children's infrastructure and neighbors. But security is far from ideal. They consider their salaries to be average.

4th place: Kazan

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.2 / 10

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, one of the largest tourist centers in Russia. People come to this city to see the most ancient monuments of architecture and history, see one of the largest mosques and taste echpochmak. It's delicious! Kazan even registered a tourist brand for itself and is now called the 'Third Capital of Russia' in guidebooks.

If the first two capitals of Russia do not appeal, then maybe it is worth trying to live in the third? Let's see how economically justified it is, and, as usual, let's use dry statistics:

1. Real estate prices are really metropolitan. To buy an apartment in Kazan, it is worth preparing about 4.6 million rubles – well, or just starting from the weighted average cost per square meter of 83 thousand rubles. The most expensive “non-residential” property is near the Kremlin metro station – there the price tag per unit area is already six figures. And cheaper – at Aviation;
2. Renting is also not cheap. On average, the owner will have to pay 23,000 rubles. monthly. As in the case with the acquisition, the most expensive is to live on the Kremlin, and cheaper – on the Aviation;
3. The average salary is 42,000 rubles. The most in demand are production specialists, although they are paid averagely. The highest salaries in Kazan are among top managers (the capital, after all) and people working in real estate. The lowest are among specialists in the beauty and advertising industry. In general, it is better to find some other locality for 'nails at home'.
4. The citizens of Kazan themselves call their salaries average. That is, there is enough money for food, water, and some household appliances. But for large purchases or everyday entertainment you have to save up. Residents of the city are satisfied with the transport infrastructure and safety on the streets, but they are not happy with the environmental friendliness and quality of the roads.

3rd place: St. Petersburg

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.5 / 10

The city of St. Petersburg is the real cultural capital of Russia. And here you can find both contemporary art and contemporary art. That is why the city attracts romantic personalities from all over the country, offering them fascinating walks through the numerous bars along no less numerous canals under almost continuous rain.

Petersburg is a tourist and cultural center. But is it suitable for life? Especially when you consider that walking and barhopping alone will not fill Brodsky's mood. We take out our favorite statistics and look:

1. Those who are going to buy an apartment in St. Petersburg will have to shake up all their piggy banks. Average real estate price – 9.2 million rubles. (134 thousand rubles per m2). Most expensive – at the Chkalovskaya and Krestovsky Ostrov metro stations, cheaper – at Dybenko Street and Grazhdansky Prospect;
2. Renting a 'real estate' is also not cheap. Every month you will have to part with 37 thousand rubles on average. It's easier to take a mortgage – the payment will be about the same. The highest rent is at the Admiralteyskaya and Chkalovskaya stations, that is, in the historical and business center of the city. But for those who are ready to spend hours for the sake of economy to get to work, Devyatkino and Akademicheskaya stations are suitable. There the average monthly fee is 19 thousand rubles, which is quite comfortable for Peter;
3. Now is the time for a deep sigh. The average salary in St. Petersburg is 49 thousand rubles. Well, that is, enough for renting real estate and bakery products 'Red Price'. The most demanded spheres are production and trade. IT specialists and real estate specialists receive the most, and the least – masters in the field of beauty and sports. Who needs to be impressive if the sun still comes out once in a while and there are a dozen bars on every street?
4. As a result, St. Petersburg is a comfortable city for an unassuming life. Here you will have to be content with spiritual food, which is immeasurable. And for the sake of material – go to Metro, 'Auchan' and other stores with low prices.
5. Most of all, St. Petersburg residents are satisfied with the cultural and entertainment infrastructure (of course!) And the silence. But they do not consider their city clean, and housing and communal services are definitely not satisfied. In their opinion, the salaries of St. Petersburg residents are average.

2nd place: Krasnodar

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.6 / 10

The largest southern Russian city, the capital of the Kuban, Krasnodar is a good place for a leisurely and measured life. It is quiet, calm and comfortable here. No one is in a hurry, in summer the city is flooded with the scorching sun, and the heart asks for a siesta. Krasnodar is a city for those who want to relax, but at the same time are not ready to part with the infrastructure of megalopolises.

However, there is still no metro here. But the other infrastructure is at a good level. Economic statistics only confirm that Krasnodar is quite a good city to live in:

1. The new apartment will cost 3.4 million rubles. on average – that is, about 61 thousand rubles. per square meter. Krasnodar keeps the peculiarities of housing pricing in provincial cities – the most expensive real estate in the center and newly built residential complexes. The cheapest is on the outskirts (unless a new district is being built there);
2. The average rent is 17.9 thousand rubles. One-room apartment will cost 14.4 thousand, a two-room apartment – 21 thousand. The cost also differs depending on the area – more expensive in the center, cheaper on the outskirts;
3. The average salary is 47 thousand. That is enough not only to pay rent, but also for sweets – even if you buy them every day. The most demanded spheres are production and trade. Builders and art specialists get the most (Krasnodar residents love to have fun!), And it is better for IT specialists and beauty masters to move somewhere closer to the capital of Russia.
4. Krasnodar residents are unhappy with Russian troubles. They are not happy with their neighbors (calling them either 'cubanoids', making fun of the South Russian way of thinking, or sometimes alcoholics) and are not satisfied with the quality of the roads (which, in principle, is understandable: a trip to Krasnodar is not an activity for the faint of heart). But they are happy with their salaries and safety. Still, the capital of the Don Cossacks!

1st place: Moscow

Ranking of the city for living standards: 7.6 / 10

Moscow is exactly the city where people come to improve the level and quality of life. It attracts people from all over Russia, as well as from near and far abroad. And there is nothing surprising in this – skyscrapers, excellent urban infrastructure, a huge number of business centers and shops with winter jackets for 250 thousand rubles, architectural monuments and annually changing tiles on the sidewalks, gastronomic festivals and Zaryadye Park with more frequent cases of sex right on the benches – all this promises prosperity.

Only Moscow is known for its cruelty. Those who could not “stay afloat” find themselves in a deplorable situation with a lot of loans and debts. Those who could – pay a mortgage for a one-room apartment just 6 km from the Moscow Ring Road and will finish somewhere in 2036.

Economic statistics will tell you the way things are in Moscow better than any words. Go:

1. It is unlikely that it will be possible to buy an apartment in Moscow without a mortgage. With an average price per square meter of 216 thousand rubles, the entire living space will cost 15 million rubles. However, if you agree to live in a closet, they have recently begun to build a wonderful property: 12 m2, 3 million rubles. But in Moscow. The most expensive real estate is within the Garden Ring and in the skyscrapers of Moscow City. On the outskirts, of course, cheaper. And you can even live outside the Moscow Ring Road;
2. The average rent is 68 thousand rubles a month. However, this is for those who value comfort. If you agree to something simpler, then you can find options for 36 thousand rubles a month. There are residential garages near Belorusskaya metro station, but they are also not cheap. It will not work out especially chic, renting an apartment in the center of Moscow – real estate there is almost never rented. In principle, almost all apartments are scattered across residential areas;
3. The average salary in Moscow is 55 thousand rubles. Yes, this is not exactly what it is worth going through all of Russia for. The most demanded directions are transport and trade. Top managers, marketers and IT specialists get the most, builders and insurers receive the least.
4. Muscovites are unhappy with their neighbors and roads. Indeed, the city is almost always in traffic jams. Satisfied with the children's and entertainment infrastructure, public transport and safety on the streets. But not in Butovo. Not in Butovo.

What about small towns?

Small towns are also a good place. According to opinion polls, the best settlements with the highest standard of living and with a population of up to 1 million people are:

1. Armavir (Krasnodar Territory);
2. Sochi (Krasnodar Territory);
3. Tyumen (Tyumen region);
4. Nizhnevartovsk (KhMAO);
5. Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic);
6. Surgut (KhMAO);
7. Domodedovo (Moscow region);
8. Grozny (Chechen Republic);
9. Gelendzhik (Krasnodar Territory);
10. Anapa (Krasnodar Territory).

In general, if there is a paradise in the world, this is the Krasnodar Territory.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.