In a YouTube discussion on the Soulless program, comedian Danila Poperechny, who is identified as a foreign agent in Russia, relayed that Ruslan Bely admitted life in Spain costs him far more than life in Moscow. This revelation frames a broader conversation about expense, relocation, and the realities of building a life far from home as public figures navigate scrutiny and new markets for their work.
When they arrived in Barcelona and began settling in, Bely remarked that the cost picture was striking. He described the moment of realization as a loud wake‑up call for his budget and practical living choices. The point was clear: everyday expenses, from housing to utilities to routine purchases, were noticeably higher than he had anticipated, creating a tangible shift in how money needed to be managed on a city‑by‑city basis. The discussion captured the emotional impact of watching expenses rise in a place with different price structures and living standards.
Previously in Moscow, Bely had tended to overlook certain costs like gasoline or fuel‑related expenses; those concerns faded from daily attention. In Barcelona, immigration‑related costs became a new focal point, adding another layer to the financial equation. He asserted that prices in Barcelona run about one and a half times higher than in Moscow and even Berlin, underscoring how Barcelona’s market dynamics can surprise newcomers who expect European cities to be broadly affordable.
In the same interview, Bely expressed doubts about ever returning to Russia even if his status as a foreign agent were lifted and safety improved. He suggested that within two to four years his family could be fully integrated into European life, with his daughter enrolled in a local school and themselves largely settled into a new rhythm and routine that aligns with their long‑term plans.
He added that while a return did not seem likely, the prospect of visiting Moscow in the summer remained appealing. The thought of a summer trip offered a glimmer of connection to a familiar place, even as the day‑to‑day life in Barcelona continued to shape the family’s trajectory.
Ruslan Bely’s path away from Russia began after the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Initially, he and his wife Olga lived in Antalya, and just before their daughter’s birth they relocated to Barcelona. The artist described an intention to secure a residence permit in Spain, with the aspiration of obtaining a Spanish passport roughly a year later, signaling a long‑term commitment to life in Europe rather than a temporary relocation.
On the same program, actor Artur Smolyaninov, who is also listed as a foreign agent in Russia and has been described as a terrorist and extremist, was cited regarding a decline in immigration income. The mention underscored the broader financial pressures and uncertainties that can accompany life abroad for public figures who operate under political and legal scrutiny.
For viewers in Canada and the United States, the discussion offers a window into how political context, migration, and cost of living intersect when public personalities relocate. It illustrates how the practical math of daily life—rent, utilities, schooling, and bureaucratic fees—can steer where a family chooses to settle, even when the emotional pull of a familiar country remains strong. The exchange also highlights how plans for residency, eventual citizenship, and hybrid life across continents become a strategic consideration in conversations about safety, opportunity, and stability. In this light, the Barcelona experience becomes a case study in modern expatriation, illustrating that Europe, with its complex mix of affordability, policy, and lifestyle, remains a compelling but costly option for artists and their families. The material invites audiences to reflect on how such choices would translate for similar families across North America, where cost structures and immigration pathways also shape long‑term decisions.