No Furniture, Toilet Outside: A Look at Irkutsk's Cheapest Rentals

In Irkutsk, many people opt for renting apartments instead of nearly unaffordable mortgages. The city also has many newcomers and students who need long-term housing. However, average prices are not encouraging — not everyone is willing to pay 30,000 rubles a month (about $340). We found the cheapest options (fortunately, they exist in Irkutsk) to see what this housing looks like. Here is IrCity«s top list of the most affordable rental apartments.

The lowest rental price, according to a free classifieds website, is 14,000 rubles (about $160).

For this amount, there are three offers immediately. For example, one can rent a semi-furnished one-room apartment on Dorozhnaya Street, not far from the children«s tuberculosis hospital.

The 24-square-meter apartment is in a wooden two-story house. «Condition is normal, there is a sofa, two armchairs, a stove, a refrigerator, a washing machine. Heating is central, very warm in winter. There is no bathroom. The toilet is outside, no shower,» says the ad author. The apartment has undergone cosmetic repairs, and there is a refrigerator, stove, washing machine, and TV.

For the same price, a two-room apartment is for rent on Dneprovskaya Street, near the «Voenny Gorodok» station.

It is located on the first floor of a two-story building. The area is decent — 50.5 square meters. The apartment is also semi-furnished, but sunny and warm, assure the ad authors.

In DNT «Zelenaya Gorka» (Green Hillock), which is located next to the residential complex «Strizhi», a two-room apartment in a «new house built in 2014» is for rent.

The apartment area is 40 square meters. «Rooms are adjacent. No furniture or appliances! The apartment is clean and decent, previously not rented out,» the ad states. But despite all this, there is a warm separate bathroom.

For 15,000 rubles (about $170), a one-room apartment in the residential complex «Aviator» is offered for rent.

The problem is that this is a new apartment in rough finish. Fortunately, there are partitions, electricity, light, and outlets. «The apartment is warm and dry. It is perfectly suitable both for living and for storing personal items and furniture, for a photo studio or other hobbies,» the ad states.

With the landlord, one can discuss the installation of plumbing. And for professional builders, there is a special offer. From the owner — purchase of materials, free accommodation, and payment of all utility bills. From the tenant — performance of finishing work as agreed by both parties.

And for 17,000 rubles (about $190), one can rent a rather pleasant studio in Novo-Lenino, in the Berezovy microdistrict.

The apartment is located on the second floor, and it has undergone cosmetic repairs. In the kitchen, there are tiles, a refrigerator, and a microwave. From furniture — a sofa bed and wardrobes. The bathroom is combined, with a bathtub and washing machine. Moreover, there is a balcony. One can live in the apartment with both children and pets.

And do you know what the highest rental price is? More than 200,000 rubles (about $2,200). For this amount, a three-room apartment with designer renovation in the club house «Velko» is offered.

The apartment area is more than 97 square meters, it is located on the 16th floor. It includes two separate rooms, a living room-kitchen, two bathrooms, an entrance hall, a loggia. There is all necessary furniture, heated floors, a dishwasher, a washing machine, a robot vacuum cleaner, an air conditioner, a water filter.

And one can also live with children and pets, but smoking — is not allowed.