Is Russia Really So Cheap Compared to Its Salaries? A Tim Kirby Reality Check

Our buddy Tim Kirby the developer of the AmericanVillages.ru subdivision in Moscow Oblast discusses the real cost of living in Russia amid the Special Military Operation and Western sanctions. Tim discusses the pros and cons of Russia's relatively low cost of groceries, if you're thinking in dollar rather than ruble terms, like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson visiting a sparkling Moscow supermarket. The reality of course is that Russia remains a lower cost, middle-income country, compared to the higher salaries but much higher living costs in much of Europe and North America (the US and Canada). Much of your success in Russia will depend on what savings you can arrive with and a realistic evaluation of your professional prospects upon learning Russian (thanks to President Putin's August 2024 decree, no Russian proficiency is necessary to obtain a Shared Values Visa, but you'll have to learn the language to become a permanent resident or citizen in the Russian Federation).

Watch the full Tim Kirby's Travels livestream here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131566233?collection=550624