Cost of Living in Saint Petersburg

As an Indian who had visited Russia 3 times in 2014-15-16, I used to have a great respect and genuine affection for the Russian culture and people. Also of course, due to the fact that the USSR greatly supported us all throughout with technology in steel, nuclear, hydro, space and military hardware.

However, with the events of the last 10 years, I have begun to notice a stark difference in attitudes of the Russians. Especially during my time in the Los Angeles & Miami, there are 2 distinct sets of Russians. One is of course the oligarchs and their families/friends who are buying up properties in the West especially US and UK, and converting them into Airbnbs or hostels. A lot of them clearly have a "only Russian" policy. Apart from this, the second segment seems to be villagers east of the Urals, from Siberia who have never even been to Moscow and SPB, claiming refugee/asylum status, to escape from the draft. They are openly hostile to even the host country citizens, let alone other immigrants such as Asians, Latinos etc. They have flooded Mexico and even started Russian only areas and businesses, similar to Goa in India.

It's clear that they are on a su*cidal path, as evidenced by Putin's phrase from last year - "What use is such a world, where Russia does not exist?" Even the infamous Blue Whale game targeting teenagers for self deletion was originated in Russia. They have become a deeply self loathing, pessimistic, and scorched earth kind of culture just in 10 years, and it's only going to get worse. Forget the Ukrainians, now they are even beginning to despise the other republics and ethnicities of each other. To say nothing of their discontempt and anger towards the Kazakhs, Uzbeks etc.

I am no NATO supporter and I loathe the US imperialism and intervention as much as anyone from the South, but I am sad to say, what I considered a once great culture, is in ruins and shambles. The Russkies are on a path to insignifance within a brainwashed echo chamber.

Rent is expensive due 2 main reasons:
1) Since Soviet Union broke up, life outside big cities has been getting worse. To survive people are moving to big cities.
2) The same situation happens in Middle Asia, there is no job and as there are no borders most of the able-bodied population move to Moscow and St.-Petersburg.
But I have to admit the second reason has been losing its power since the war began.