Getting around is easy, with a strong transit core and a few gaps at the edges; a central base keeps everything walkable. Day to day, prices run well below US levels, and personal safety is a real concern; read current advisories before you go. In Russian Federation, political stability is low, so follow the news close to your dates; the economy is holding but prices can move quickly; income is fairly evenly shared; the press is tightly controlled, so local news may not tell the whole story.