Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is very common, both cleaners and nannies. Many people hire piano teachers and others too. It is inexpensive. - Dec 2023
We had a housekeeper and I believe we paid US$9-10 an hour. - Mar 2019
I do not have any personal insight but I do know many folks here use both Russian and expat (Filipino, etc) help. I understand the prices are reasonable. The embassy can also assist with work visas and contracts as needed. - Nov 2018
It is widely available. Mostly Filipinos and some Russian help. Cost is approximately $10USD per hour. - Oct 2017
Mainly Filipinos with some Russians mixed in. Not sure of the cost as I don't use them, but it is cheaper than DC. - Sep 2016
Plenty of help available. Cost varies greatly. - May 2016
It is available, however, you have to be responsible for health insurance and paid vacations if they are employed full-time. - Jun 2015
A lot of people on the compound had a nanny and/or a part-time housekeeper to help around their residences. We didn't just because our apartment was so small. - Oct 2014
Definitely available. - Feb 2014
I pay about about US$30 for 4 hours of cleaning, from a Philippina. - Jul 2013
Available and relatively expensive. We have a cleaner from the Phillipines for a half-day every week for $50. That seems to be the going rate for Filipinas. Russian cleaners may be cheaper. - Jul 2013
Very plentiful Filipino and Russian domestic help, charging US$8-10 per hour. They range from fantastic to awful. You have to be thorough when you are hiring. - Jan 2013
Available, yes. Cost, unknown. - Mar 2012
We have a Russian house-keeper who comes 3x a week for about four hours, and who cooks and cleans. We pay her about $7 an hour (the ruble equivalent). You can also hire Filipina help, but they charge more and you have to make sure their visa allows them to work. Lots of people have full-time nannies. - May 2011
Available but pricey. - Jan 2011
Domestic help is available and reasonable. - Jul 2010
The numbers are here, but the quality is not. About $40 for 1/2 day. - May 2010
I paid about 700 rubles for a once-a-week cleaning. It was plenty for me. There is a HUGE Filipino community in Moscow, and recommendations are plentiful. Some people prefer to hire a Russian housekeeper, as they are a bit cheaper, but many don't speak English. - May 2010
Many options, and costs are low. It helps a lot if you can speak Russian though. - Feb 2010
We don't need it, but there is a small community of Filipino housekeepers and nannies that service the Embassy community for a reasonable cost. - Jan 2010
Don't know. We clean our own house. - Nov 2009
We pay someone 1000 (around $33) rubles a day to clean our house. And she's amazing. There is a Filipino contingent at the NEC that will help you out. Russian help also very nice and helpful at the same price. - Oct 2009
Available, around $10 per hour for a housekeeper - Aug 2009
I'm really unsure of this because we didn't use domestic help. Many people do and it's readily available. - Aug 2009
$8-10 per hour. - Jul 2009
Many Russians and Filipinos have been working for embassy families for years. Nannies average US$1,000/month and domestic help ranges depending on hours and services. - Aug 2008
