Disqus - Latest Comments for Elemental

Re: 10 ways life in Russia is better than in America

Elemental — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:55:47 -0000

Thank you for your thoughtful response. It is really helpful. Your answer helps me to understand that due to the lack of expense in so many areas, even though I could be earning 50-60% less a year in Russia, I might be saving the same as I would be on 100k a year in Sydney (once expenses are deducted) provided I live like a Russian.
Middle management salaries within the Finance and Tech sector seem to be around 60-80k rubles a month. About 1k USD or 1300 AUD a month.
While this is very scary to me on paper, I will keep investigating.
Thank you!
P.S. Have you been to republic of tatarstan, I hear Kazan is the new modern city in Russia - that is where I am looking.

Re: 10 ways life in Russia is better than in America

Elemental — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:38:24 -0000

Hi SF_Expat could you please comment on the very low wages and weak currency that Russians seem to earn/have relative to us in the west and how that would impact living. I appreciate that the cost of living is quite low while actually in Russia (relative to the US, Aus, and NZ etc.) which would be great for us earning our local salaries in Russia or on holiday. But I have heard also that many Russians find it difficult to save if they earning rubles.
As an expat looking to relocate to Russia, one of the biggest challenges I've been experiencing is being offered a salary where I can put away savings and maintain a normal/comparable standard of living which would enable me to travel when needed etc.
I appreciate also, that much of this is to do with a weak currency, but it seems on a surface level that an expat would have a very hard time in Russia until their currency strengthens significantly.
While internet, rent, food etc. are cheap; foreign consumer goods (electronics, luxury goods etc) and travel is very much priced the same in USD across the world -- and so this is where I'm finding the low wages/weak currency to be an issue. Cost of living may be higher in the west, however, you still for the most part have a greater surplus of cash in the end.
Compared with Russia, I earn less, spend less, but also save less. (Fine if you plan to only live in Russia, not so good if you ever need to go to another country as the ruble is very weak).
Any insight you could offer regarding your own experience with earning and saving would be very much appreciated.
I'd very much to like to relocate soon, but the salary is the biggest stumbling block in that process. As an expat I would one day need to return home, so I've been pondering how earning rubles would impact my future outside of Russia.
Thanks

Re: Russia's Changes In Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes

Elemental — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 16:37:07 -0000

Hi SF_Expat I was wondering if I could speak with you personally about the lifestyle in Russia and what it may be like for an expat with no Russian language skills.
I'm seriously considering the move to the place, but not Moscow. Maybe Samara or Kazan. I'd love if we could talk, if you're up for it. Thanks! Do you have a throaway email address I could send you something to?