After a brutal 9-hour bus ride from St. Petersburg, I landed in Moscow in July 2019 with high expectations. Russia’s capital, 20 million people, the seat of power, endless money – surely this would be an incredible experience.
Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. Moscow left me feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and oddly depressed. While the city has undeniable energy and serious wealth, it’s also a sprawling, rain-soaked megacity that feels more like 10 cities awkwardly mashed together than one cohesive place.
First Impressions: Size Matters (And Not in a Good Way)
Moscow is absolutely massive – we’re talking about 20 million people spread across what feels like an endless urban blob. Coming from the more manageable St. Petersburg, the scale was immediately overwhelming.
I stayed near a metro station called something like “Chestrudy” (no idea what that means in Russian) in an old-school Russian apartment that came with a bonus mosquito infestation. Classic Moscow welcome, apparently.
The city center revolves around Red Square and the Kremlin – the obvious tourist magnet with Lenin’s Mausoleum drawing daily crowds of people who apparently pay money to stare at a preserved corpse. Each to their own, I guess.
The Cultural Divide: Tourists vs. Reality
Here’s something interesting I noticed: unlike St. Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect where locals and tourists mix naturally, Moscow’s center is basically a tourist theme park that locals actively avoid.
The Kremlin area feels like a museum district – impressive Orthodox churches, historical sites, and endless tour groups (mostly Chinese when I was there), but zero local life. Real Muscovites don’t hang out at Red Square any more than New Yorkers hang out in Times Square.
The real Moscow happens in the business districts, the money centers, and the sprawling residential rings that stretch endlessly outward.
People and Demographics: More Than Just Russians
Moscow is significantly more multicultural than St. Petersburg. You’ll see tons of people from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, and other former Soviet states – many working as taxi drivers or in service industries.
There’s also a substantial Muslim population, giving the city a different feel from the more homogeneous St. Petersburg. If St. Petersburg is Russia’s San Francisco (artsy, alternative, slightly bohemian), then Moscow is a mix of New York City and LA – business-focused, spread out, and all about the hustle.
You’ll see way more suits, way more serious business energy, and way less of that alternative, tattooed vibe that makes St. Petersburg charming.
The Money Reality
Here’s the thing about Russia – it’s a massive country, but all the wealth is concentrated in Moscow. Unlike the US where money is spread across New York, LA, Miami, Seattle, and Chicago, Russia funnels everything into this one megacity.
You’ll see it everywhere: Mercedes, BMWs, Porsches cruising the streets, people in expensive suits, and a general sense that serious money flows through this place. I lived near the Lukoil headquarters and walked past oil executives daily.
Getting Around: Beautiful Metro, Exhausting Distances
Moscow’s metro system is genuinely stunning – those Soviet-era stations with mosaics, chandeliers, and architectural details that put most Western transit to shame. It’s like riding through underground palaces.
But here’s the brutal reality: getting anywhere takes forever. Those long escalator rides down to the platforms, multiple line changes, and the sheer distances involved mean crossing the city can easily take 30+ minutes of exhausting underground travel.
After a few trips across town, I basically gave up and stayed in my neighborhood. The city’s size works against itself – it’s just too much effort to move around regularly.
Cost of Living: Surprisingly Affordable (If You Avoid the Center)
Despite all the visible wealth, Moscow remains pretty affordable for foreigners, especially if you don’t insist on living in the very center.
Accommodation Breakdown
- Nice apartment in Moscow City (skyscraper district): Around $1,400/month
- Outer ring apartments: Much cheaper, but requires commuting
- Central locations: More expensive but still reasonable by Western standards
Daily Expenses
- Meals: Small portions but cheap
- Transportation: Metro and taxis reasonably priced
- Overall: You can live well on $1,500-2,000/month including nice accommodation
The key insight: average Russians still don’t make much money, so real estate hasn’t been inflated by foreign investment or local wealth the way it has in London or New York.
Weather: When Nature Hates You
I was there in July 2019, which should have been prime summer weather. Instead, it rained about 80% of the time I was there. Not just occasional showers – persistent, mood-killing rain that made the whole city feel depressing.
Combined with the mosquitoes (they’re everywhere) and the general post-Soviet architectural vibe, the weather really contributed to Moscow feeling bleak during my stay.
Seasonal Reality Check
- Winter (Dec-Feb): Brutal, freezing, dark – avoid unless absolutely necessary
- Spring (Mar-May): Transition period, still chilly and rainy
- Summer (Jun-Aug): Should be best, but apparently can be rainy and mosquito-filled
- Fall (Sep-Nov): Cooling down, probably depressing
Nightlife: Money Talks, Everyone Else Walks
Moscow nightlife is all about status, money, and showing off. Think high-end clubs with serious face control – if they don’t like your look, you’re not getting in.
The scene revolves around bottle service, expensive venues, and that classic Eastern European club dynamic where older men with money surround themselves with young women. It’s very transactional and performative.
Don’t expect dive bars or casual meeting spots like you’d find in Western cities. Everything is designed around demonstrating wealth and status.
Dating Culture Reality
Here’s where Moscow gets interesting from a cultural perspective. One-night stands are basically non-existent – it’s just not part of the culture. Instead, you’re looking at serious dating with multiple dinner dates, traditional courtship, and the expectation that men pay for everything.
But here’s the kicker: the city’s size makes dating logistically nightmarish. If she lives on the opposite side of this massive city, you’re looking at hours of travel just for a date. It’s like the New York problem on steroids.
The Sugar Daddy Economy
This might sound controversial, but it’s worth discussing because it’s so visible in Moscow. My friends and I noticed that attractive women were almost always in expensive cars, while the metro was full of more average-looking people.
The conclusion? Many of the most attractive women in Moscow have sugar daddy arrangements of some sort. And this isn’t stigmatized – it’s just accepted culture. Age gaps that would raise eyebrows in the West are completely normal here.
If you’re thinking about being a sugar daddy, Moscow isn’t the place – there’s too much competition from guys with serious oil money and oligarch connections.
Tourist Attractions: More Than Just the Kremlin
Beyond the obvious Red Square and Kremlin complex, Moscow has some genuinely cool spots:
- WWII Museum: Fascinating historical exhibits, really well done
- Moscow City: Futuristic skyscraper district that looks like something from a sci-fi movie
- Metro Stations: Architectural marvels worth seeing even if you’re not traveling
- Lenin’s Mausoleum: If you want to see a preserved Soviet leader (there’s always a huge line)
The skyscraper district (Moscow City) was honestly my favorite part – modern, sleek, and a dramatic contrast to the rest of the city’s Soviet-era aesthetic.
Digital Nomad Assessment
Pros:
- Affordable living costs relative to income potential
- Unique cultural experience (“behind the Iron Curtain”)
- Better English than other Russian cities
- Business opportunities if you’re in oil/finance
- Good international airport connections
Cons:
- Exhausting to navigate due to massive size
- Depressing weather and general post-Soviet vibe
- Limited casual social scenes
- Language barriers outside business contexts
- Feels isolated from Western culture and values
Digital Nomad Rating: 4/10
The uniqueness factor is the only thing saving this from a lower score. Unless you specifically want the “badass foreigner in enemy territory” experience, there are much better places to work remotely.
Safety and Practical Concerns
Safety-wise, Moscow is similar to St. Petersburg – generally safe in tourist and business areas, but stay aware of your surroundings. The main concerns are more about bureaucratic hassles than physical safety.
WiFi is adequate but not amazing. If you’re doing serious remote work, have backup plans for connectivity.
Moscow vs. St. Petersburg: The Verdict
Having spent time in both cities, I’d choose St. Petersburg over Moscow every single time. Here’s why:
St. Petersburg: More human-scale, artsy, walkable, charming architecture, better cultural vibe
Moscow: Massive, business-focused, exhausting to navigate, more money but less soul
Moscow feels like a city designed for oligarchs and oil executives, not for actual human enjoyment. St. Petersburg feels like a place where people live interesting lives.
Who Should (And Shouldn’t) Visit Moscow
You Might Like Moscow If:
- You’re fascinated by displays of extreme wealth and power
- You want the full “Russian experience” including the seat of government
- You have business interests in oil, gas, or finance
- You love massive cities and don’t mind exhausting logistics
- You want to say you’ve been “behind the Iron Curtain”
Skip Moscow If:
- You prefer human-scale, walkable cities
- You want a relaxed, cultural travel experience
- You’re sensitive to depressing weather and architecture
- You prefer casual, egalitarian social scenes
- You have limited time and want to see the “best” of Russia
The Bottom Line
Overall Rating: 5/10
Moscow is undeniably impressive in its scale, wealth, and historical significance. But impressive doesn’t always mean enjoyable or worthwhile for travelers.
The combination of exhausting logistics, depressing weather during my visit, and a social scene dominated by money and status left me feeling cold despite the obvious energy and resources of the place.
If you’re doing a comprehensive Russia trip, Moscow is obviously essential. But if you have limited time or are choosing between Russian cities, I’d strongly recommend St. Petersburg instead.
Moscow feels like a city designed for business deals and power plays, not for the kind of cultural exploration and human connection that makes travel memorable. It’s Russia’s engine, but not its soul.
Have you been to Moscow or other Russian cities? Did the scale overwhelm you, or did you find ways to love the megacity chaos? Share your experiences in the comments – especially if you discovered parts of Moscow that changed your perspective!
