Moscow, with its frantic pace and limitless opportunities, attracts many who are purposeful, active, focused on career growth and financial development. But here's the paradox: in recent years, the capital's residents are almost as willing to move to smaller, quieter and quieter cities. For example, one of the Subtleties employees, a native (well, practically) Muscovite, recently moved to Vichuga, a cozy town in the Ivanovo region, where rural landscapes peacefully coexist with urban panoramas, ancient temples and mansions. However, other places that fit the criteria of “quiet, beautiful and inexpensive” were also considered. An important nuance: a 25-year-old newcomer is far from retirement. So why do the children of megacities sometimes prefer the provinces? Did you enjoy reading The Subtleties of Tourism? You know what to do 😉
1. Ecology
The more residents in the city, the more they harm the environment: they consume resources, drive non-environmentally friendly cars, throw out tons of waste. Exhaust gases contain carcinogens, aldehydes and other harmful substances – after standing for an hour or two in a traffic jam, you can feel unwell. There are at least 15 operating landfills in the Moscow region and several incineration plants that emit carbon dioxide, ash and slag into the atmosphere. Thermal power plants, of which there are more than 10 in the capital, produce not only electricity, but also carbon monoxide, oxides of sulfur, nitrogen and other poisons. It is no wonder that residents of some areas look out the window through the soot and smoke and complain about the stench and the lack of fresh air. Moscow and the Moscow region account for 15 % of all garbage generated in Russia.
Whether it's a province: there are disproportionately fewer people and cars, the air is cleaner, there is more greenery. Even the climate is more pleasant, because trees and shrubs not only create shade, but also accumulate moisture that absorbs excess heat. Health is restored, breathing becomes easier, and psychologists have proven that those who live closer to nature are less likely to be stressed than in concrete anthills. To be fair, there are also environmental problems in industrial regions like the Novosibirsk or Sverdlovsk regions. But the same Ivanovo region with its forests, rivers and lakes is favorable for life.
Health is restored, breathing becomes easier, and psychologists have proven that those who live closer to nature are less likely to be stressed than in concrete anthills.
2. Prices
Prices for Moscow real estate are discouraging: one-room apartments away from the center cost an average of 7-8 million rubles, and somewhere in Plyos they are at least half the price. Such a gap is typical not only for Russia: for example, in the USA, millennials move en masse from New York to Seattle, Dallas and San Diego precisely because of the huge difference in housing costs. The owners of Moscow apartments often rent them out and live comfortably in the provinces, where you can rent an entire house for that money.
In the regions, it is more affordable not only to buy, but also to rent apartments, travel by taxi and public transport, food, and entertainment. Let's compare: in Moscow you can rent a modest “odnushka” for 30-40 thousand rubles per month, in Shuya there are options for 6-8 thousand rubles; ticket for public transport in the capital – 61 RUB, in Shuya – 27 RUB; a dinner for two in a Moscow eatery costs an average of 2500 RUB, in a Shuya restaurant it costs 1000-1500 RUB.
3. Lifestyle
Residents of megacities are constantly stuck in traffic jams: for example, St. Petersburg residents annually spend a total of about 6 days in them. The average Muscovite spends more than an hour on the road from home to work, while a Sochi resident spends about 50 minutes. In small settlements there are no such distances, which means that you can save precious time for rest, hobbies and communication with loved ones.
Studies show that residents of small towns are less likely to stay up late at work – fortunately, they have something to do in their spare time. In Vichuga, you can walk around the old temples and the art museum, in Shuya, pre-revolutionary architecture has been preserved, Plyos generally turns into a tourist Mecca – the surrounding forests, beaches and colorful houses over the Volga are too picturesque. And, of course, there are restaurants, cinemas, shops and fitness rooms everywhere, so you can not be afraid of boredom. In metropolitan areas, the crime rate is higher, and the civilized province is calmer and safer.
What else to read?
- I moved to Nizhny, and it was a mistake: 6 reasons why living here is not very
- 4 reasons why living in a tiny European town not bored even after Moscow
- What can you buy in Asia for the price of a one-room flat in Moscow
Udalenka
It is not necessary to change jobs when moving: the aforementioned author « Subtleties ”creates in Vichuga no less fruitfully than in Moscow. During the pandemic, everyone has become accustomed to remote work, and now the actual location of an employee is not always a determining factor for an employer. But even if you have to re-employ (and, most likely, switch to a lower salary), this is unlikely to significantly affect the quality of life – again, due to the difference in prices. And starting your own business in the field of trade and services, according to entrepreneurs, is easier not in megacities, but in the provinces, where competition is not so fierce, and renting premises and equipment is more profitable.
