I live in a post Warsaw Pact state. The most popular car maker here is Toyota with Corolla as the most popular model. I think I don't need to explain why.
The gas is not cheap here in comparison with Russia and Belarus, but is waaay cheaper than what it costs in the eurozone States with the exception of Germany (diesel is also cheap in Spain btw).
Challenger/Charger/Mustang is mostly popular with rich kids who are spending their parents money on gas.
I own a Scion and love it, though had to import car parts from Russia as Scions were never sold in the EU and Russians get used Japanese cars almost for free. Scions are normal Japanese Toyotas with a steering wheel on the left side.
I know a lot of US companies that are incorporated in so called "tax heavens" where the corporate tax is much lower than usually i.e.Ireland, Luxembourg,Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Monaco.
Yandex has its offices in both of the cities you've mentioned
Most of the global companies who dare not to cease their operations in Russia since the infamous events should have an office in St.Pete as it's the second Russian city by population with great universities and relatively low cost of living.
- The life here is pretty cheap compared to the Western Europe standards
- food is great (have i said that it's also cheap?)
- lots of lowcost airlines, i.e. plane to Brussels less than for 100$
- no need to own a car, walk from home to work takes 20 minutes (i live in the downtown)
- cheap services
- homogenous society
As a based in Poland software engineer I'm keen to know what's the salary in these countries? I have been influenced by the Balkans, would love to see it once again. However, most probably as a tourist =)