Keeping up with the Joneses on Moscow's income map

Ever wondered what your neighbours are earning? A new survey of Moscow’s clusters of wealth and poverty might give you a few clues.

The study, conducted by RRG, offers some unsurprising information – with the bulk of the city’s wealth gravitating towards the centre and the suburbs generally being poorer.

But it throws up a few oddities, such as the suburban Cheryomushky region where average incomes of just under 100,000 roubles are roughly twice that in neighbouring Ramenki, Academichesky and Kakhovka.

Moscow’s richest area hugs either side of Tverskaya, where average incomes reach 348,000 roubles per person per month.

Others in the six-figure bracket include Lubyanka (185,015 roubles), Arbat (154,815), Zamoskvorechye (130,589), Novoslobodsky (100,415) and the leafy suburb of Krylatskoye (102,496).

Krylatskoye, although far from the centre, boasts green riverside parks, convenient access to the wealthy Rublyovka enclave and was recently embroiled in controversy over the demolition of the community of Rechnik. It was suggested at the time that wealthy interests in the region had encouraged Moscow's authorities to clear the land, though claims that it was earmarked for a lucrative new development were strongly denied.

At the other end of the market, the refinery region of Kapotnya’s notorious environmental problems leave it with an average of 22,959 roubles – but it’s still not the poorest place.

That dubious honour goes to Kozhukovo, just beyond the MKAD, where incomes are 20,912 roubles.

Almost 20 years after the end of the communist system, Moscow still lacks a clear distinction between rich and poor areas. Many neighbourhoods retain a colourful mixture of aspiring professionals, young families and pensioners who have lived in the region most of their lives.

But these figures suggest that is starting to change, with wealthy ghettoes springing up in some parts of town.

The survey’s authors believe their information will help companies choose where to invest to be close to their target audiences, and say their figures are useful for both high-end stores and budget traders.

But that was met with scepticism in Gazeta.ru, where other researchers disagreed.

Maxim Trapeznikov of retail group X5 said that they preferred to use their own research when deciding where to open up a new Pyatorochka or Perekrestok supermarket.

And Natalya Rudakova, of consultants CB Richards, warned: “As well as transport access and income, the concept, internal logistics and anchor stores of any shopping centre are just as important.”

Meanwhile, readers questioned whether dacha districts like Peredelkino could really be bracketed among the city’s poorest districts, given its leafy luxury and prominent residents including the private residence of the late Patriarch Alexy II of Russia.