The easiest way for a foreigner to find an apartment in Moscow is through a friend who already resides in the city. Many property owners may be suspicious of foreigners possibly because of the Soviet legacy , so your best shot is probably to look for landlords who have already dealt with people from your country.
Online services like couchsurfing. Another good idea is to contact your soon-to-be colleagues. You may find someone who would be happy to take you in as a roommate and split the rent with you or, alternatively, someone might be leaving the city and their apartment might be available soon.
I was very lucky. Lots of foreigners travel to Moscow on a regular basis and many decide to stick around for a while. English speakers also tend to form online communities using various Facebook groups.
Also, try the online service called The Locals that will help you save on the fees usually paid to brokers. Most Russians use it and it will help you to find a great variety of apartments that are available for rent. The downsides of this service include the brokers, who charge considerable fees for their service, and the reduced number of foreign-friendly property owners, especially in the low-budget category.
At the same time, the website is very intuitive and easy to use. Another popular alternative is Avito , a website where you can buy anything, from clothes to cars to apartments.
