Even though this semester ITMO University gives all its students an opportunity to study remotely, you still might want to come and live in St. Petersburg. Finding the perfect place might take some time, but here is some advice that will hopefully make it easier. 

Useful links

• Уютное гнездышко (A Cozy Nest) is one of the most popular and easy to use communities with apartment listings. The offers are moderated, so there is a better chance of finding a reliable offer.

• Avito, one of the biggest classified ad services in Russia, is the place to look for everything from used books to apartments and jobs.

• Cian. Another trustworthy service for all things real estate.

• Airbnb. This major international platform is fully functional in Russia, too. It’s mostly useful for finding a temporary place to live but its key advantage is in being able to easily find hosts who are fluent in English or any other language.

• Room Mate and Flat Finder. Another community available in English. Apart from a place, you can also find a roommate here.

General tips

• Ask for help! If you are an ITMO student or staff member and don’t have a friend in Russia for now, consider reaching out to the staff of our Buddy System. They will surely be ready to help you with checking out apartment listings.

• Keep in mind that in Russia most places for rent are already furnished. If you would like to change something, you’ll need to discuss it with the landlord. You can check our guide to get a better idea of what Russian apartments usually look like. 

• Determine your budget. Usually, you can rent a room in an apartment for about 10,000-15,000 rubles per month and a one-room apartment for 20,000-25,000 rubles per month. Some landlords also ask for a deposit and your utility bills can be either included or excluded from the monthly rent – read the conditions carefully.

• If you feel like something’s off, don’t hesitate to say no – there are lots of offers and, unfortunately, some of the landlords aren’t trustworthy. Check their documents, don’t pay anything before you at least visit the place, see if the household appliances are functional, and carefully read (or have someone you trust do it) the rental agreement before signing.

• Mind the distance! St. Petersburg is a big city, so if you rent a place in a remote part of it, your commute one way may be more than an hour. 

• Remember that in order to obtain a migration registration, you need to be registered at a place of residence. Your landlord should help you with that. For more details about your stay and documents, write to the Migration Services Office or the Center of International Faculty Support.