💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western standards, with low prices for daily expenses.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are reasonable, especially for long-term stays, but quality varies.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets and grocery stores offer affordable options; imported goods are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
80%
Weight: 20
Public transport is cheap and widely used; taxis and ride-shares are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
62%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are available but somewhat limited; prices are low.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are affordable but facilities may not be very modern.
💱 Currency Stability
43%
Weight: 30
The Russian Ruble experiences volatility due to geopolitical and economic factors.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
79%
Weight: 100
Decent broadband speeds in the city center; reliable for remote work.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
51%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; options are limited compared to major Russian cities.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
63%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but quality and speed vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
50%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
37%
Weight: 100
Irkutsk is not a well-known digital nomad hotspot.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
68%
Weight: 30
Generally relaxed lifestyle with opportunities to enjoy nature and culture.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Good natural surroundings but urban pollution can be an issue.
🧼 Cleanliness
54%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is average; some areas can be untidy.
🗨️ Language Barrier
32%
Weight: 30
Russian is dominant; English is not widely spoken outside tourist spots.
💨 Air Quality
55%
Weight: 15
Air quality fluctuates; generally acceptable but can worsen in winter.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
58%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services are available; quality varies and private clinics are better.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
70%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are relatively low compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
60%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious conditions may require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
21%
Weight: 80
Long, cold winters with snow; short summers; not ideal for those preferring warm climates.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
75%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional earthquakes but rare.
🏞️ Green Spaces
72%
Weight: 10
Several parks and proximity to Lake Baikal offer good green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
40%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not common due to cold climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
78%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with snowy winters and warm summers.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
70%
Weight: 20
Rich Siberian culture with museums, theaters, and historical sites.
🌃 Nightlife
45%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; some bars and clubs but not very vibrant.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to nature, including Lake Baikal and surrounding forests.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Some Russian language schools available; limited options for other languages.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
73%
Weight: 10
Good variety of cultural and nature tours, especially related to Lake Baikal.
🎳 Indoors Fun
52%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment; cinemas and museums available.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
60%
Weight: 25
Traditional Russian and Siberian cuisine; limited international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
48%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios; niche market.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available; limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
57%
Weight: 15
Availability of fresh produce is seasonal; healthy options exist but limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
40%
Weight: 20
Irkutsk is UTC+8, which can be challenging for coordinating with Western clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
35%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
38%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
40%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
45%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces; facilities are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
30%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem compared to major Russian cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Standard Russian payment services available; international cards accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest but regulatory environment is uncertain.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
55%
Weight: 30
Irkutsk airport connects to major Russian cities; limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
70%
Weight: 20
Reliable buses and minibuses cover the city well.
🚶 Walkability
65%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable; outskirts less so.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
60%
Weight: 15
Services like Yandex.Taxi operate reliably.
🚲 Cycling
40%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; cold weather restricts use.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Rail and bus services connect to other Siberian cities; long travel times.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
30%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions and occasional slowdowns due to government controls.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with rare outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available but not widespread or always reliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
30%
Weight: 40
Russian visa process is complex and restrictive for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is bureaucratic; no special benefits for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
35%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech due to government controls.
🏛️ Political Stability
50%
Weight: 20
Stable but affected by broader geopolitical tensions.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners; requires extensive documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
45%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and time-consuming process.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa available in Russia.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
35%
Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
25%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
30%
Weight: 20
Small online presence for nomads in Irkutsk.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
65%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms can be conservative but major areas are safe.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Some reports of xenophobia; tolerance varies.