Nearly all the expatriates living and working in Russia are on temporary contracts and therefore rent their residential property.

There is an abundance of properties available to rent in Russia, and many property agents, some with websites on which you can view available apartments and houses. Agents typically charge at least a month's rent as the fee for securing a property through them. It is best to have an English-speaking agent recommended to you as unscrupulous practices are not uncommon. Be aware that agents often pose as private sellers in classified advertisements, and wary of agents who offer to sell you a list of private landlord phone numbers.

Many expatriates live in apartments or townhouses in gated or guarded compounds or apartment buildings, which range from 1 to 5 bedrooms. Rooms are typically quite small, but the lower level apartments often have access to a shared garden.

It is also possible to rent houses and apartments in the centre and on the outskirts of the city. Some rental properties are in very nice historical buildings, or are Western-style homes formerly used as summer homes or large houses with gardens in 'dacha' or country house communities outside the city.

It is reported that rental on a two room 'Western style' apartment is around US$1,700 to US$3,000 per month, depending on the standard of renovation and area of the city.