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Studying in Ufa: Where the Tuba Meets the Kettle

@Isabella Hart2/8/2026blog

so you’re thinking about studying in ufa? chill. let me spill the beans over some cheap vodka and bad life choices. first up: safety. ufa’s like the quiet kid in class who won’t start drama but will shush you if you try. crime rates? lower than my attention span during lectures. but hey, don’t go wanderin’ into the abandoned watermelon factory at 3am. heard it’s now a squat for ‘art enthusiasts.’

rent’s another story. one-bedroom in the old city? $150/month. smells like old pipe smoke and dacha-grill residue, but hey, if you’re a budget student like me, you learn to appreciate that ‘scent of soviet nostalgia.’ job market? same as anywhere here - part-time gigs if you’re stubborn enough to ask. my roommate’s a barista at glebeshka and side-eyes me every time i order a martini. (barista rule #1: no martinis unless you’re bringing lasagna.)

weather’s a diva. winters? think of moscow’s nose - minus the snowflakes and more ice. summers? pleasant. like, if you ignore the 70% humidity that makes your hair look like a giant afro rebellion. compare it to kazan: 45 minutes out, lake baley vibes if you’re into that. near moscow? two hours by train. cheap flights if you’re desperate to escape the tundra.

neighbors? imagine your dorm neighbors as that one guy at the bar who’s always filming himself. except here, they’re in hoodies, listening to tanya tate, and occasionally set off illegal fireworks. ‘sound of ufa’ playlist on spotify? more like ‘sound of ufa’s existence’ - muffled, loud, and slightly tragic.

let’s talk data. safety index: 78/100 (numbeo says so, and i’m not mad about it). rent averages: laughably low. $150 gets you a one-bedroom in the old city, which smells like old pipe smoke and dacha-grill residue. job market: part-time gigs if you’re stubborn enough to ask. but if you’re into tech? good luck. the nearest silicon valley is in moscow, and they’ll want you to commute via bear.

here’s the tea from someone who’s lived here too long: avoid the kebab vendors near the train station. those blinis? seasoned with existential dread and questionable cheese. instead, hit the $3 pierogi at gruzevaya. ‘don’t trust the guy in the red coat’ - that’s igor, who’s seen three people try to sell knockoff iPhones outside the mall. still hanging around, probably waiting for someone to bite.

pro tips for this chaotic city:
- never trust a map. the metro’s a game of ‘will it actually open?’
- buy a bike. public transport’s slower than a grandma checking her horoscope.
- learn basic russian phrases. even ‘spasibo’ (thanks) will get you free dumplings.
- wear layers. seriously. unless you like feeling like a poorly dressed popsicle.

blockquote time. overheard gossip from the glebeshka bar: ‘did you see that new exhibit at the ufimt museum? it’s just a bunch of trash in a room. local artist says it’s a statement on soviet-era recycling.’ and another: ‘heard the city’s trying to rename the street of programmers to ‘street of forgotten dreams.’ probably a bad idea. names matter here.’

so, is ufa worth it? if you’re into cheap rent, loud winters, and the thrill of dodging stray dogs named after soviet tank models, yeah. but if you need central heating or a career that doesn’t involve Uber-driving, maybe skip.

links to check: clade.su (local coding bootcamp), r/ufa (reddit’s chaotic take), glebeshka.ru (bar with better stories), and don’t even pretend you’re not curious about the ufa ice-skating spot - trust me, it’s the real deal.

p.s. my dog’s name is volga. not because of the river. because i’m basic like that.

*tl;dr:* ufa’s a wild, cheap, and slightly cursed mix of soviet ghosts and modern chaos. perfect if you’re a drummer with a leaky roof and a vendetta against mornings. ❓

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About the author: Isabella Hart

Sharing snippets of wisdom from my daily adventures.

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