Immigration processes are common. Moreover, the reasons for moving to another country can be very different. This is the creation of a family with a foreign citizen, and the search for a better paid job, and a change in climate, etc. In search of the most attractive destination for themselves, some Russians stop at a cozy and safe state - Belarus. This land of clean rivers and forests is famous for its friendly people. Citizens of Russia, once in this republic, begin to recall the best times of the Soviet past. We will get acquainted with the pros and cons of life in Belarus, as well as how those who immigrated to this country value this country.
Attractive destination
Belarus is considered an Eastern European state. However, based on its geographical location, this country is located in the center of Europe. The republic stands out for its stability, as well as a strong state structure. Most of the country's inhabitants cannot be considered prosperous. However, the middle class is numerous in society.
For many foreigners, the advantages of living in Belarus are the cleanliness of its cities, the quality of food produced, as well as the low level of crime. Moreover, these positive aspects are the main ones when choosing a direction not only for recreation, but also for changing the place of residence.
Reasons for immigration in Belarus
Most Russians are worried about the current situation in the world’s political arena. Often they are dissatisfied with the socio-economic conditions of their life, they do not see the prospects for professional growth, etc. All this certainly leads to thoughts of emigration. After all, many consider moving to another country as a way of giving a chance to obtain attractive prospects.
Judging by the reviews, life in Belarus suits many immigrants. They like the fact that their own authenticity is preserved in the country, the streets are clean, cultural heritage is protected, a system of social benefits, free education and health care are being developed.
Life in Belarus is attractive to Russians and the fact that you can enter this post-Soviet country without a visa. Those of our compatriots who seek to immigrate here are:
- yearning for the Soviet past and want to again feel the spirit of socialism;
- seek to reunite with Belarusian relatives;
- Received a job offer on the territory of the Republic of Belarus;
- studying at a university in Belarus;
- prefer to live in a temperate continental climate with a mild summer and frequent winter thaws.
However, before making a final decision on moving, it is worth examining the question of what is the life of ordinary people in Belarus. This is necessary in order to understand what to be prepared for after immigration.
First impressions
What are the reviews about the life in Belarus of those Russians who first crossed the border of this state? On the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the surrounding cleanliness immediately catches the eye. According to this indicator, Russian cities have a significant difference from the Belarusian ones. People in Belarus are used to throwing garbage only in bins, which are quite enough on the streets. And this is immediately appreciated by many Russians.
In their order, life in Belarus also amazes them. Feedback from immigrants to the republic suggests that here people always comply with the rules adopted by law. For example, it’s almost impossible to “negotiate” with the traffic police inspector on the road. Judging by the reviews, the life of the people in Belarus goes with a practical absence of corruption. You can solve your problem by visiting a government agency for free.
Among the huge advantages of this state, our compatriots highlight good roads. Moreover, their excellent condition is supported not only on the largest highways. The roadsides are in perfect condition. They have neither pits nor garbage.
Among the minuses of life in Belarus, Russians note the level of service in the country. It resembles Soviet times. The store here may be rude and not consult about the product. At gas stations, drivers themselves refuel fuel in the tank of their car.
Salary level
Judging by the reviews, life in Belarus should be chosen for those people who decide to downshift or have a remote job. The fact is that making money in the country, especially in the current economic conditions, is quite difficult. Even the $ 200 that is needed to pay for renting a one- or two-bedroom Minsk apartment is far from all. But then for those immigrants who do not need money, the country is a kind of Eastern European Switzerland.
Today, the standard of living in Belarus is quite low. According to the data available in 2018, only 15.7% of the country's population give their economic condition a favorable assessment. The middle class in Belarus is a layer of the population, accounting for approximately 37%. A typical representative of this class is a local resident aged 40 to 60 years, living in the capital or regional center, having his own living space with all utilities, as well as a car. However, by the end of 2018, a negative trend is emerging. The fact is that a sharp weakening of the Belarusian currency is likely to lower the standard of living of people. The middle class will thin out noticeably. That is why, considering the pros and cons of life in Belarus, moving to the country is desirable for those who are looking for only a calm and quiet life. After all, the population of this state itself seeks to earn money in Russia or in Poland. Moreover, there are about 100 thousand of such labor immigrants.
The life of Russians in Belarus from a financial point of view cannot be established even when opening their own business. The fact is that the Soviet system still reigns in this country. It is because of them that it becomes extremely difficult to conduct your business here. Business is literally “stifled” by high taxes and existing bureaucracy.
It is quite difficult to earn more than $ 500 per month for a civil service specialist. Moreover, it does not matter what he does. High-level government officials have a salary of just over $ 1,000. Working in Belarus as a teacher or a doctor is completely unprofitable. These specialists cannot count on a salary of more than $ 300. According to official statistics, the largest monetary remuneration for their work is received by financial workers. In second place are those who take part in technical developments and scientific research. Their salary level in Belarus is slightly higher than that of its neighbors.
Retirement benefits
As you can see, the standard of living in Belarus lags behind the Russian. Moreover, not only average salaries are lower, but also pensions. However, the Russians who went on a well-deserved rest speak out in favor of the FSZN of Belarus. After all, this fund never allows delays in payments and clearly fulfills its obligations to the older generation and people with disabilities.
However, recently the pension system of Belarus has faced the problem of increased workload. This is due to an aging population and an increase in the proportion of older people. In connection with such demographic changes, revenues to the fund’s budget are clearly not enough. To solve the problem that arose in the country, the leadership went to increase the retirement age. Currently, a period of gradual increase is underway. As a result of this process, by 2022, women will retire at 58 years old (instead of 55), and men at 63 years old (instead of 60).
Population and life expectancy
The last census took place in Belarus in 2009. According to its data, a little more than 9.5 million people live in the country. Of these, almost 2 million - in the capital of Belarus - the city of Minsk. In second place in terms of number is Gomel. 517 thousand people live in this regional center. 77% of the population of Belarus is concentrated in cities.
According to statistics, in 2016, life expectancy in Belarus amounted to 72.7 years. At the same time, women are ahead of men. They live on average up to 78.6 years. Representatives of the strong half of humanity are somewhat behind in this regard. The life expectancy of men in Belarus is 67.2 years.
The choice of settlement
Is there a better place to live in Belarus? Judging by the responses of immigrants, this country is good everywhere. Belarus is a fairly compact state. Because of this, there is not much difference between its regions. Of course, in small towns and villages in Belarus, people's lives are somewhat simpler and poorer. However, trying on the Russian concept of the hinterland for this country will be incorrect.
Minsk
There are many ratings of the best cities to live in Belarus. And in almost all of them, the leader is Minsk.
This city is attractive in many ways. One of them is work. To find for yourself a suitable position in the specialty, and even with a good salary, is quite difficult in Belarus. In some areas, such as financial services, design, marketing and journalism, this is simply not possible. In Minsk, a little over 900 IT companies work, employing nearly 40 thousand specialists. Some of these firms are international and are constantly recruiting new employees.
In addition, the High-Tech Park is located in Minsk. This is a zone that allows IT companies to conduct their business on favorable terms, which is very attractive for this type of business.
In other areas, immigrants note that there is no shortage of jobs in the capital of Belarus. However, there are problems with paying for this work. Its level is so low that one cannot speak of a decent life. At the same time, IT people stand separately. They are doing well in Belarus.
It’s enough just to find a place to live in Minsk. In the city you can easily find an apartment not only for rent, but also for purchase. At the same time, various options are offered, including historical buildings, as well as modern ones with underground parking. If we compare the cost of apartments of one class in the capital of Belarus and in Moscow, then in Minsk they will be 1.5-2 times cheaper.
It is not difficult for residents of the Belarusian capital to travel to Vilnius. You can travel by train, which takes only two and a half hours. In other words, Minskers may well be able to visit Europe and enjoy its values ​​on their weekends.
Positive feedback is left by immigrants about Minsk roads. During the war, the city was almost completely destroyed and rebuilt. That is why, unlike many other settlements where the buildings have been preserved since the time when the carts drove past them, the capital of Belarus took into account the intensity of car traffic. That is why there are wide streets, the coverage of which is also in good condition. The Russians who moved to Minsk for permanent residence are surprised to note that there are no traffic jams in the city. There is no need to get up early to leave for work 1-2 hours before it starts. You can drive from one end of the city to the other in about 30-60 minutes, saving your nerves, time and fuel. An additional bonus, unlike Moscow, is the lack of rudeness on the roads. Drivers are not in a hurry in Minsk. That is why they do not need to cut, go around the curb, etc.
However, if we consider the environment, then Minsk is one of the three most polluted cities of the republic. In the capital of Belarus there are many industrial enterprises that carry out their emissions into the atmosphere, and there is also a large car park.
Regional centers
Brest and Grodno are traditionally convenient for housing. These are western regional centers, attracting with their infrastructure and travel opportunities to Poland. In the last place is the Gomel region, in the territory of which an increased background radiation is recorded, which is a consequence of the Chernobyl accident in April 1986.
Mogilev and Vitebsk are somewhat poorer. However, they are not far from Smolensk, with which they are actively exchanging goods. Many residents of these eastern regions of Belarus study and work in Russia, and also run their own business in it. Citizenship of the Union State, giving equal rights with the Russians, allows them to open their own business in a neighboring country.
Relocation to the village
Collective farms and state farms are still preserved in Belarus. This is another echo of the Soviet past. What is the standard of living in a village in Belarus? Reviews of people and statistics confirm that the salary in the agricultural sector is low. However, the work here is not worth it. Having passed the country, it is impossible to see untidy estates or abandoned fields. The villages in Belarus are clean and processed. They can be compared with the most successful Russian regions, namely with Stavropol and Kuban.
Some immigrants who choose life for themselves in Belarus opt for one of the villages. The country has a presidential program called "Revival of the village." It provides for the construction in the villages of new brick houses that are issued to collective farmers for free. You can get this housing ownership after working on the farm for 10 years. During this time, they live in the house for free, but you can’t change jobs. You can get settled on a collective farm by a tractor driver or a milkmaid. These specialists receive about 200-300 dollars in Belarus. With the money in the village it’s quite nice to live if you also have your own farmstead.
You can settle down on a collective farm at a local school. Interestingly, the village teacher in Belarus earns 1.5 times more than his city colleagues. Similarly, the country's authorities are trying to stimulate the revival of the village.
However, having studied real life in Belarus, it becomes clear that the people are not particularly keen to return to their origins. It comes to the fact that in the border villages, houses built under the presidential program are settled by foreigners who agree to work on the collective farm. For example, in the Gomel and Brest regions, free housing is massively received by residents of Ukraine. Subject to settlement in the village, such a house will be issued to a Russian.
Prices
Based on the cost of food, you can also judge what kind of life is in Belarus. Responses from immigrants say that food prices in the country are about the same as in Russia. But at the same time, housing is much cheaper for a person. So, renting a one-room apartment in Minsk will cost 200-300 dollars, and in the regional center - 130-200 dollars.
But it should be borne in mind that the country has introduced high tax duties on household appliances and electronics. This is done to protect their own manufacturer. In this regard, such devices in Belarus are relatively expensive. For those who decide to move to permanent residence in this Eastern European country, it is advisable to purchase a microwave oven, laptop, TV, etc. in Russia.
As for travel in public transport, it is recommended that you purchase a ticket for daily travel. It is valid for a month and costs about $ 15. Traveling by minibus costs about 15 Russian rubles. In a taxi, the cost per kilometer is 20 Ross. rub. However, it is worth considering that the distances in the cities of Belarus are much smaller than, for example, in Moscow.
Relatively low in the country are utility bills. For example, for a one-room apartment in the winter you will have to pay $ 70, and in the summer - 30.
In comparison with Moscow and St. Petersburg, it will be inexpensive to buy a home. A one-room apartment in Minsk will cost from 60 thousand dollars. "Dvushka" will cost 100 thousand or more, depending on the area. Apartments in regional centers are much cheaper. For example, in Brest, Mogilev and Grodno housing area of ​​50-55 square meters. m is estimated at 40-50 thousand dollars. In Vitebsk - from 30 thousand
Calm and safety
What is life like in Belarus? Reviews of Russians say that even in Minsk, you can walk along the streets quite calmly at night.
All are well lit and safe. In Minsk there are only two places where you can run into trouble. These are Shabans and Chizhovka. In these proletarian regions, there are sometimes hooligans who ask for a “smoke”. But gang warfare with stabbing and shooting does not happen here.
Residents of Belarus
Arriving from Moscow, many Russians believe that in Minsk and other cities of the republic no one is in a hurry. People here are at first glance slow and sluggish. But the great advantage of being in Belarus is that no one here feels like a foreigner. At work, in a taxi and in a store, anyone is looked at as an ordinary resident. People calmly react even to representatives of African and Asian peoples. No one turns around after hearing an English speech to consider a foreigner.
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