For a big city there is a big loss. Saratov is the second largest city in Russia and the second largest in population decline

The region, according to Rosstat, is recognized as an economically depressed area. There is also a demographic crisis here. Similar trends are observed in Nizhny Novgorod, Barnaul, Samara and Volgograd.

But in recent years, reverse trends have also been observed, as analysts note. Many people move for permanent residence to Saratov, buying an apartment here, renting premises to run their own business, discovering unique historical monuments and objects.

Climate and weather conditions in Saratov

The city is located in a temperate continental climate zone, in which certain deviations from the norm are observed. Because of this, the weather here can be unstable.

In particular, winters are cold, snowfall is abundant, but thaws often occur with temperature drops from -20 to 0. In February and March, snow drifts and blizzards are likely, which paralyze highways and communications between city districts.

The Volga in the Saratov region freezes in mid-December, and only at the end of April the water is completely cleared of ice.

Spring here is early, in May the temperature often drops, and then a sharp warming begins, bringing rain and heat. In summer it is hot, dry, sultry, and it rarely rains.

The environment in Saratov is at a moderate level (see the link for the rating of environmentally friendly cities in Russia in 2022). Pollution of the atmosphere has already begun, as well as of water sources within and outside of Saratov.

The air and atmosphere are negatively affected by traffic jams and cars, the number of which in the city is constantly increasing.

Due to the close location of a military site where radioactive waste is stored, the environmental situation in the city is worsening.

Border Fort

According to the generally accepted interpretation, it is believed that the founding date of Saratov is July 12, 1590. The city appeared as a fortress, which gradually developed into a serious fortification on the southeastern borders of Russia. From here the development and settlement of vast lands continued. The date of the founding of the city of Saratov coincided with the next round of development of trade along the Volga route.

The fortresses that were then built along the little-developed banks of the great river represented a powerful barrier against the raids of the Nogais and Crimean Tatars. Dangerous nomads forced the tsarist government to build Samara, Tsaritsyn and Saratov almost simultaneously. All these cities had one founding father - Grigory Osipovich Zasekin. A skilled fortifier, an experienced military leader and builder, he remained one of the main figures associated with consolidating Russian power on the Volga. 1590 (the year Saratov was founded) is a date that turned out to be an important milestone in this process. Thanks to the fortress, it was possible to establish a permanent connection between the lower and upper reaches of the Volga.

Infrastructure of Saratov

It is necessary to evaluate a settlement from the point of view of comfort for life, the level of development of the transport and social structure.

Public transport

Transport in Saratov is represented by minibuses, buses, electric trains, trams, and trolleybuses.

Bus routes cover almost the entire territory of Saratov, as well as part of Engels. Where there are not enough buses, minibuses run.

Electric trains transport and transport people out of the city and back, and in winter they are used as a supplement to buses.

There are certain problems with the road surface, due to which there are often traffic jams on the roads in places with heavy traffic.

Educational institutions

Schools in Saratov provide quality education, although there are not enough educational institutions.

The situation is similar with preschool educational institutions, which provokes the formation of queues and parents are not always able to place their children in kindergartens without any problems.

There are not enough schools and kindergartens in many districts and villages of Saratov, so there is overcrowding in groups and classrooms.

Due to problems on the roads, schoolchildren do not have time to study, and parents cannot take their children to kindergartens on time.

In addition to schools, the city has specialized lyceums, colleges, and gymnasiums with in-depth study of certain school subjects.

Higher education can be obtained at local universities, as well as at universities that are branches of Moscow, St. Petersburg and international universities.

Among educational institutions, faculties with legal and economic specialties are popular.

High-quality education can be obtained at the Saratov State Academy of Law, Saratov State Socio-Economic University and Saratov State University.

Students also study in agricultural, medical and military universities. Professions that allow training in areas of biotechnology are in demand in the city; veterinary medicine, agriculture, and agroengineering are popular.

Healthcare

The healthcare and pharmaceutical system requires expansion and improvement. There are city and private clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, maternity hospitals, sanatoriums, and emergency rooms in every microdistrict in Saratov.

In remote villages, there are difficulties with hospitals and quick access to quality medical services. Specialists from medical institutions are often trained directly in Saratov - at institutes and colleges.

Shopping centers and supermarkets

Trade enterprises, which are major employers and taxpayers of the city, are constantly expanding their representation in the service provision market. There are several shopping centers in Saratov, including Atrio, Povolzhye, Arena, and Navigator. Here you can not only buy a certain type of product, but also order services and have great fun.

Supermarkets, hypermarkets and shops are represented by chain brands, as well as specialized institutions. The range of products is huge; goods are brought not only from other cities, but are also produced at local enterprises.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Saratov is presented in the form of a French shield. Three silver sterlets are depicted on an azure background, oriented from the upper corners of the shield and the middle of the tip. The fish are positioned with their heads towards the center. The bottom one is depicted with its back to the left of the viewer. They form the Greek letter "upsilon". Sterlets symbolize the abundance of these water inhabitants in this territory.

The artistic composition is included in the State Heraldic Register of the Russian Federation under No. 212. Adopted by decision of the Saratov City Duma No. 13-108 of November 18, 1997.

Work and salary in Saratov

In the mid-1990s. Most industrial enterprises began to close, which immediately caused a huge wave of unemployment and an increase in prices for utilities, which for many years were covered from the local budget.

Hypermarkets, warehouses, small firms and production facilities, and markets arose on the territory of such factories as machine tool factories, butter factories, and aviation factories. New residential complexes and neighborhoods are even being built. As a result, Saratov becomes a trade center of the region and the region.

Employers in the industrial sector remain:

• Electrical unit production association;
• Refinery;
• Bearing;
• "Saratovorgsintez"

Such enterprises need managers, administrators, engineers, technologists and professionals to fill the vacancies of lathe operators, loaders, welders, mechanics, and machine operators.

The wages of workers at a particular plant vary, depending on the type of activity, form of ownership, and employment schedule.

Top 10 highly paid professions in Saratov

The average salary in Saratov in 2022 is 35 thousand rubles per month. Many workers are employed in the mining sector. Here earnings are 55 thousand rubles. per month. In the service sector, staff income is quite insignificant - from 19 thousand rubles.

Changes in average wages in Saratov by month

Simultaneously with the development and demand for classical blue-collar professions, the need for managers of various levels, accountants, financiers, IT specialists, and programmers is growing.

Wages in Saratov are projected to continue to rise, but slowly. After deducting all taxes, specialists will receive from 20 thousand to 35 thousand rubles. monthly. More details about salaries in the city in different areas are in Table 2.

Table 2. Income level in the city in 2021-2022

Social payments, including pensions, scholarships, and salaries will be indexed, as the average income tax and the minimum wage will change.

Tax pressure will be felt by entrepreneurs who find it difficult to develop their own business.

Low-income residents are demanding that benefits in Saratov become higher. Analysts believe that this is possible if such payments are provided for in the local budget.

Read about salaries in different cities of Russia on our website.

Soviet industrialization

Due to the First World War and the Civil War, Saratov's economy was significantly degraded. Only after more than ten years had passed did production reach the previously record level of 1913. In the 30s the city experienced industrialization and collectivization. The transformations of that period greatly influenced what Saratov is today.

Photos of many modern enterprises are images of factories founded during forced industrialization. These include "Universal" - a plant engaged in the production of machine tools, as well as a knitting factory, a boiler plant, a meat processing plant, etc. Thanks to industrialization, the structure of Saratov's industry has changed. Metalworking played an increasingly important role in it, and the food industry played a lesser role.

the cost of living

Saratov is a city of different opportunities for residents who were born and raised here, as well as for visitors from other regions of the country.

The standard of living here can be called optimal and affordable, although the city government is not doing enough to improve the well-being of Saratov.

If you are planning to move here, you need to study the financial component of the move.

First of all, attention should be paid to the cost of renting and purchasing housing:

• elite development is taking place in the center of Saratov next to the Volga. For a 1-room apartment in this part of the city you will have to pay from 2.5 million to 3.3 million rubles;
• apartment in a new middle-class building – 1.2 million rubles;
• housing on the secondary market - about 1.2 million rubles;
• rent – ​​10 thousand rubles/month for economy option;
• rent of a comfort class apartment – ​​from 15 thousand rubles/month.

Food prices in Saratov differ from the capital. In one week, about 3 thousand rubles are spent on food. You can save money if you buy food at markets. This is where city residents go.

The cost of products included in the social basket is as follows:

• chicken – 200 rub;
• bread – 30 rubles;
• milk – almost 40 rubles/1 l;
• 10 eggs – 50 rub.

You can find out more about prices for basic food products on the official website of the Government of Saratov.

Watch the video about prices for fruits and vegetables in Saratov markets.

Travel on different types of municipal transport costs 23 rubles. one way, and a taxi ride costs from 100 to 300 rubles.

Since 2022, housing and communal services tariffs have increased again, about which citizens are constantly complaining. They are not satisfied with the quality of service, high prices, and poor communications.

More information about housing and communal services prices can be found on the website of the Government of the Saratov Region.

New challenges

The imaginary Tsarevich Ivan fled to the Don, where he died in a skirmish with the army of False Dmitry II. Saratov also briefly ceased to obey the Moscow authorities - supporters of the next impostor seized power there.

Peace soon came, but in 1614 the settlement was overtaken by a real disaster. The city burned to the ground. Many residents died, and those who managed to survive moved to Samara. Gradually the fortress was restored. Its revival coincided with the restoration of legitimate power in Moscow (the throne passed to the Romanov dynasty).

The Volga region, meanwhile, continued to live its provincial life, divorced from great political passions. The main event here was the construction of new fortresses (for example, the founding date of Saratov became fundamental for the region). The history of the region in the 17th century is known rather fragmentarily. In 1636, Saratov was visited by Adam Olearius, the head of the German embassy, ​​who left unique notes about the life of Russia at that time.

Reviews of those who moved about Saratov

The city is experiencing an outflow of population, which makes up part of the labor force. Some say that there are simply no prospects here, others - normal wages and work, others are worried about the future of their children.

You should always read reviews of people who have decided to move to Saratov. They help find an apartment, a job, or a school for the child.

On websites and thematic groups, reviews can be neutral, negative and positive. It is recommended to read everything to get a complete picture of Saratov.

Some of the reviews are given below:

Volzhanka has lived in the city for 50 years.

Yes, Saratov is dirty, although it all depends on the people. If they want, they litter. New residential complexes, shops, and entertainment centers are being built in the city, while many live in pre-revolutionary houses.

I’m also tired of Saratov, so in the summer I go to live at the dacha, closer to the Volga.

Gennady Burya, who moved from Saratov in the mid-1960s.

Previously, it was a large industrial center. Came to the city in 2021. Most of the enterprises are working, but there is a sense of desolation and abandonment. There are a lot of young people, friendly people.

Left Saratov.

She changed from Saratov to Moscow seven years ago. Life in the capital was much better than in my hometown. Now Saratov is only disgusted by the short-sightedness of the local authorities, who do nothing to develop the city.

Andrey Polyakov.

Never think about moving to Saratov. In winter there are huge traffic jams, people are completely negative, there is dirt everywhere, homeless people and drug addicts, problems with work.

In love with Saratov, has lived in the city since birth.

I never understood those who left their small homeland under various pretexts. I love Saratov! I think that he was lucky several times, since the historical building suffered little damage during the Second World War. In addition, local authorities adopted laws that prohibited the construction of high-rise buildings near architectural and cultural monuments. There is dirt everywhere, but it all depends on people.

Vitaly Popov, left Saratov in 2022.

The decision to change my hometown to Rostov was caused by the fact that the city was slowly dying. Enterprises close and stop working. My wife and I also didn’t like the low standard of living, the lack of opportunities for business development and entrepreneurship.

Ilya Kitov, review of the move from Saratov to Moscow.

I will dedicate my review to how I moved for permanent residence to the capital of Russia. I was born here, graduated from school and university, and after graduation I went to Moscow. In Saratov, I liked the low prices and a lot of forests. But there are many more disadvantages. Firstly, small salaries. Secondly, the city transport was killed. Thirdly, the lack of leisure places in Saratov itself. In Moscow, prices are higher, but the level and quality of life is much higher and better

Thus, many people leave Saratov in search of a better life, high salaries and good jobs. This is not the case in the city, so local residents often try to leave Saratov and go to other regions of the country.

We recommend that you check out our website: rating of Russian cities by standard of living in 2022.

Features of the fortress

Zasekin determined not only what the founding date of Saratov would be, but also what the initial site for construction of the fortress would be. It was a convenient crossing on the Volga, located exactly halfway from Tsaritsyn to Samara. At first, about 300 archers served in the settlement. There was a hill near the town. It was used as a convenient platform for viewing the area several kilometers around.

The city was protected not only by fortifications, but also by natural barriers: steep river slopes, forests, oxbow lakes, channels and small lakes. On one side, the natural border of Saratov was a deep ravine. The city builders also tried. When the founding date of Saratov arrived, fortress walls and watchtowers appeared in the previously deserted area.