St. Petersburg

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

When we moved here 7-1/2 years ago I could say I wish I had brought EVERYTHING and then some. Now most everything is available that one could find in say Stockholm or Prague. Luxury goods are still overinflated price-wise, but day to day things are comparable or cheaper than in Western Europe unless you shop in places strictly catering to foreigners. Computer gear is much cheaper in the States than here or Europe generally.

Bring quality clothing to last for your stay. Here it's generally Wal-Mart quality at Nieman-Marcus prices.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

You should have a trustworthy Russian mentor... someone affiliated with your company, or somehow known to someone you know. Either that or a very experienced expat contact. Deal only with a well-established reputable house agency recommended by your trusted contact.

Don't be dazzled by an amazing-looking flat in a historic district without first checking out what'a available for groceries etc. nearby. Find out what public transport is available nearby. Try to locate walking distance to a subway (tube).

A 3-bedroom flat (5-room) apartment of about 95 sq. meters. Tiny by American standards, but good for Russian. It feels roomy due to the atypical open floor plan we designed when we renovated.

A "eurostandard" remodel is fairly typical for expats now, but as a rental. Most expats tend to live in the historic central districts.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

My wife is Russian, so I'm not typical of most expats. She always wanted to live on Vassilievsky Island, and a few years ago she negotiated a very complex chain of stae-owned flat trades to end up with a completely trashed empty 5-room communal flat in the neighborhood. I don't know how she did it (and I don't think I want to). We subsequently gutted the place and renovated it.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Well, you can run the gamut. Compared to NYC or SF, it's generally a lot less, though you can find somebody who'll happily try to get that kind of price out of you. Probably comparable with midwestern cities. Average costs for foreigners and Russians is very different. If the price seems about comparable to your home area, it's probably too high. Try dickering.

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