Forum
Analytics
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to Western cities, affordable food, transport, and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental prices, especially for long-term stays; options range from apartments to shared housing.
🍎 Food & Groceries
75%
Weight: 40
Local markets and grocery stores offer inexpensive fresh produce; imported goods are pricier.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87%
Weight: 20
Public transport is very cheap, with buses and marshrutkas widely available.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Cinema, theaters, and cultural events are affordable; nightlife is modest but inexpensive.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
70%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are reasonably priced but fewer high-end fitness centers.
💱 Currency Stability
43%
Weight: 30
Russian Ruble experiences volatility due to geopolitical and economic factors.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
68%
Weight: 100
Decent internet speeds in urban areas, though not as fast or reliable as major global hubs.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
45%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; some cafes offer WiFi but professional coworking options are scarce.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
60%
Weight: 30
Several cafes provide WiFi, but connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
48%
Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically catering to digital nomads; mostly general coffee shops.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
21%
Weight: 100
Not a well-known destination for digital nomads; low community presence.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
75%
Weight: 25
SIM cards easy to obtain with passport; affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
65%
Weight: 30
Moderate work-life balance; cultural norms emphasize work but leisure activities are accessible.
🌳 Environmental Quality
60%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality due to proximity to Lake Baikal and green areas, but some urban pollution.
🧼 Cleanliness
55%
Weight: 10
City is moderately clean; some areas show signs of neglect.
🗨️ Language Barrier
32%
Weight: 30
Russian is dominant; English is not widely spoken outside tourist spots.
💨 Air Quality
63%
Weight: 15
Relatively good air quality, better than many Russian industrial cities.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
60%
Weight: 25
Decent family amenities but limited international schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
50%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services available; quality varies and private clinics are limited.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
55%
Weight: 20
Sufficient for minor issues; serious medical care may require travel to larger cities.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
20%
Weight: 80
Harsh, long winters with cold temperatures and snow; short summers.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
78%
Weight: 10
Low risk of natural disasters; occasional earthquakes but generally safe.
🏞️ Green Spaces
70%
Weight: 10
Several parks and proximity to nature, including Lake Baikal.
❄️ Air Conditioning
35%
Weight: 15
Limited use of air conditioning due to cold climate; some accommodations may lack it.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
85%
Weight: 10
Distinct seasons with snowy winters and warm summers.
🔊 Noise Pollution
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; quieter than major metropolitan areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
78%
Weight: 20
Rich Siberian and Russian cultural heritage with museums, theaters, and festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
40%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly bars and small clubs.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
92%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to nature, hiking, Lake Baikal, and outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Russian locally but limited formal language schools for foreigners.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
75%
Weight: 10
Good availability of cultural tours, Baikal excursions, and local experiences.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; some cinemas and cultural centers.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
65%
Weight: 25
Traditional Russian and Siberian cuisine; limited international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
38%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios; niche market.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available; limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
60%
Weight: 15
Fresh produce available; healthy eating options growing but limited.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
40%
Weight: 20
UTC+8 time zone can be challenging for communication with Europe and Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited professional networking events for digital nomads or expats.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
35%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
32%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
40%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces; quality varies and amenities are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
25%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem; limited support for entrepreneurs.
💳 Local Payment Services
55%
Weight: 10
Standard Russian payment services available; limited international payment options.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest but regulatory environment is restrictive.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Irkutsk International Airport connects mainly to Russian cities; limited international flights.
🚇 Public Transit
75%
Weight: 20
Reliable bus and minibus system within the city.
🚶 Walkability
60%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable; outskirts less so.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
50%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps like Yandex.Taxi available but less prevalent than in major cities.
🚲 Cycling
35%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; cold winters reduce cycling appeal.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
65%
Weight: 15
Train and bus services connect to other Siberian cities; long travel times.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
20%
Weight: 10
Very limited or no scooter/bike rental services.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70%
Weight: 20
Good mobile coverage in urban areas; rural areas less covered.
🔒 VPN Reliability
60%
Weight: 20
VPNs work but some restrictions due to Russian internet regulations.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
75%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
30%
Weight: 40
Russian visa process is complex and time-consuming for many nationalities.
📊 Tax Friendliness
40%
Weight: 30
Tax system is bureaucratic; no special benefits for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
20%
Weight: 15
Limited freedom of speech due to government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
50%
Weight: 20
Stable internally but geopolitical tensions affect perception.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
35%
Weight: 15
Difficult for foreigners; requires extensive documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
40%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and slow process for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No digital nomad visa available in Russia.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
25%
Weight: 50
Not particularly friendly or accommodating to digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
15%
Weight: 25
Very few or no digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
20%
Weight: 20
Minimal online presence or support communities for nomads in Irkutsk.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
65%
Weight: 100
Generally safe city with low violent crime rates but petty crime exists.
♀️ Female Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms can be conservative but women generally safe.
✊ Racial Tolerance
40%
Weight: 50
Some reports of xenophobia and racial intolerance.