That being said, I'm very observant how my native friends are able to live, especially those with good professions, and even that seems to keep getting better. Maybe its just in the Krasnodar Region, but it seems that pretty much anyone who wants a job can get one, including professionals.
One downside right now is that a lot of the smaller bazaars and markets are dying due to competition from the malls and big chain stores. This is hurting a certain (typically older) segment that used to make an excellent living as retail merchants (many doing exactly the same thing for years). Those that can adapt do well, the others are hurting a bit. In a nutshell, capitalism.
“” “” You are right in that I must not use my personal position as a point of reference. If I counted my USD income, I would be in the top several percent of the distribution.”” “”
I think you are exaggerating but it is very close to truth. You’d be at top 20% with slightly above average US income now.
My personal impression related to a Ural region before all that sanction wars that the reasonable minimal income was roughly $1300 per month. There were people making less than that but these were practically bums. Just a little determination and they’d make more. Hard working people were making two to three times the minimum above. In small business anywhere in between that minimum and six times that much. There is no difference between blue and white collars unless managing positions. A hard working plumber would make more than an office clerk, often by much.
The jobs are actually easily available. You are getting offer for blue collar jobs immediately on arrival. Head hunters are running after new arrivals at airports and train stations.
The wages info is useless without a typical structure of expenditures and in that sense Russia is super comfortable for the American. For many reasons you don’t really need that money flow there to stay afloat.
For that reason a Russian hair dresser or waitress making $900 plus tips could not only live comfortable but also to have two European vacations a year and also own a Hummer H3 on top of that.
That was actually a higher living standard 10 years ago comparing to a German with twice and more the income.
In current situation the prices in rubles has about doubled and nominal wages in dollars halved.
Imported stuff and foreign vacations are twice the price and many people are passing on it.
As for a consumer prices these are changing upwards but I don’t see in as other than regular inflation or seasonal fluctuations. Essentially food was on par with regular Western prices and now half of that.
The difference are fine wines and exotic foods. These are double in price too but the market was small anyway.
As for consumer goods there is an influx of all things Chinese. To bring things into perspective there was no such thing as a Chinese HDTV in Russia before 2014 and now they are selling for about the price Sony was selling before.
The consumer gets worse stuff but generally for the same price in rubles one spent before or for half the dollar price.
Motor vehicles are the most problematic stuff. These are high dollar stuff.
The companies without Russian assembly plants and most American makers doubled their prices and near immediately succumbed.
The rest increased the prices over years and these aren’t really affordable anymore. People who used to drive Mercedes are opting for Camry and Camry drivers are opting for Lada.
For Lada it is a gift. They were near bankrupt before and now the top sellers.
As for a job market people aren’t spending that lavishly so retail and banking are in worse shape. People are shifting to online shopping instead of going to malls. Less people are eating out and it is not good for the restaurant industry. I have no idea what landscape designers or dietary consultants are doing now. I bet they aren’t doing fine.
All in all the money flow issue I was talking about allows most Russians to save thousands of dollars even with nominal incomes of $600 a month there. They would be fine and won’t starve for now.