What are the flats like in central Mosckva?

[Freyja]

I am considering a move to Moscow. When comparing some prices, I noticed the price difference between flats in central Moscow, and those near the Prospect Mira, Rizhskaya, and Alekseyevskaya areas. While in Moscow I was only in these areas primarily, having only toured sites in the center of the city. Is size and location the factor when determining price in this instance?

[Shamrock777]

The rent depends on many factors: the type of the building, its location (city centre or the outskirts), wheather there is a metro station nearby etc. The area you mentioned is not considered by the Moscovites as prestigious. It is rather far from the city centre and it's not too good from the ecological point of view.

[Freyja]

Thanks for your reply ^_^ The area I'm mainly considering is Pushkinskaya; I was unable to visit this area during my trip. The only flat I was in was my boyfriend's family's in Alekseyevskaya, thus I am unable to make a comparison.

[Shamrock777]

Metro Station "Pushkinskaya" area is the very center of Moscow. The rent for a decent apartment there (in a well-maintained apartment building, I do not mean "slums" ) can be 2-3-... times higher than the price somewhere else, on the city outskirts. Again, the price depends on the location of the residential building and the features the landlord may offer you, i.e. security, CCTV monitoring system in the hall, access control, the availability / absence of home appliances, furniture, phone-line, neibourhood etc. Usually if you have some real-estate agency to find an appartment for you, they'll demand a fee for their services - usually it's 100% of 1-month rent payable after the apartment has been found, when you sign the contract with the landlord. Good luck!