Moscow: Global leader in terms of comfortable and affordable social infrastructure

Moscow has been recognized as the city with the world’s most comfortable social infrastructure. According to Head of the Moscow Department of Urban Development Sergei Lyovkin, local schools are located within walking distance of blocks of flats, while city residents can afford all types of social services.

Lyovkin said that these were the conclusions taken from a study prepared by specialists at the company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), who looked into the level and dynamics of the urban development of the world’s largest megalopolises.

“Moscow was compared with 13 cities, including New York, Paris, Shanghai, London, Sao Paulo, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, Berlin, Barcelona, Mexico City and Chicago, by three indicators,” Lyovkin added. “They asked if city residents are satisfied with the affordability and quality of social services and how far from residential areas such facilities are located.”

The average home-to-school distance in Moscow is less than 400 metres, while in other cities it is 1.2 kilometres on average.

According to Lyovkin, compliance with regional standards has ensured proximity to schools in the city.

“The excellent results in Moscow show the effectiveness of programmes that allow us to take a balanced approach when it comes to developing the city,” Lyovkin said.