Housing for Students

International students in Russia live in university dormitories, rented apartments or host families. It is important to find the best option - comfortable housing within your means. Before making a choice, weigh the pros and cons. After all, how and where you will live and relax, depends on how you will study.

Dormitory:
The most economical type of housing. Many Russian universities provide dormitories for their nonresident and foreign students. As a rule, these are buildings located not far from the university, with rooms for 2-4 residents. The furnishings usually include desks, chairs, wardrobes, bookshelves, beds and cabinets. Dormitories often have a shared kitchen, gyms, lounges, canteens, laundries, lockers, bicycle rooms, and a security service.

Rented housing
If your university does not have dormitories or for some reason they do not suit you, then you need to look for a rented apartment or room. It will cost more, but you can choose the location, level of comfort and even neighbors (if you rent an apartment with classmates or live with a host family).

The most expensive apartments are in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The smaller the city and the farther from the capital, the cheaper the rent. For example, you can rent a one-room apartment in Moscow for 30-35,000 rubles (428-500 dollars), a room - for 15,000-20,000 rubles (214-286 dollars), depending on the location and amenities (prices are for 2020). In Novosibirsk it will cost half the price. Some universities help their international students find housing, including selecting host families. Therefore, first of all, check with the university representatives if they provide such services. This guarantees you a quick and safe selection of housing. During the search, you can settle in a hostel.