The south-west, west, and part of the north-west areas of Moscow are the most prestigious (near the orange and red Metro line), where the highest quality rental accommodation can be found. Given the size of the city, it is quite usual to have to commute at least an hour to work wherever you choose to live.

The cheapest areas of the city are to the south-east and east. A "Russian renovated apartment" in these areas will cost considerably less but is likely to be quite drab and old-fashioned, and may be in a poor state of repair. However, for those on a very tight budget it is possible to rent Russian-style apartments in these areas for around $200 per month or less. Generally, you can expect to pay at least $800 per month for a reasonable standard of accommodation in Moscow.

In St Petersburg and other cities it is preferable to rent accommodation in or near the city centre, as the suburbs do not offer much accommodation of a standard acceptable to western tastes.

The minimum rental period is normally six months, and you will often be expected to pay your rent in cash. It is important to ensure that the rental contract is in Russian and English, otherwise it will not be legally enforceable. You should also check that there are legal documents confirming that the landlord is the legal owner - if you use a property agency they should do this on your behalf.

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