The Cost of Living in Ukraine
Last update: Aug. 3, 2010 (some new prices added)
Ukraine is a country that can seem expensive to one person and inexpensive to another. The range of prices one may pay for food, transportation, and housing is very large. It is possible to spend thousands of dollars a month or to get by in Ukraine on a very low budget.
How much do things cost in Ukraine?
You will find a few general price patterns in Ukraine:
Most basic services (haircuts, etc.) are cheaper because labor is cheaper.
Corporate services cost roughly the same as in other countries.
Imported goods (electronics, name brand clothes and high-quality equipment, etc.) cost noticeably more than in the U.S. and Western Europe.
Goods produced in Ukraine tend to cost slightly less than their equivalents in the developed world (this applies to food products).
Ukraine's public transportation is far cheaper even than in neighboring Poland. Taxis are somewhat cheaper.
Real estate prices (rent and purchase) in major cities are comparable to those in Central Europe. Utilities cost significantly less.
Poor hotels are cheaper, and good hotels more expensive than in most developed countries.
To give you an idea of the cost of everyday items in Ukraine, here is a list of approximate prices of things in Kiev in US dollars (as of March 2010). Prices had been rising in the past several years before the financial crisis, gradually approaching western levels in many instances and sometimes passing them. Some things that are traditionally inexpensive in the West (bowling, public tennis courts, monthly pass to a trendy gym) can be significantly more expensive in Ukraine, as they are often considered "elite."
Rent for one-bedroom apt. (not directly in center) — $350-600/mo.Rent for nice Euro-level apt. with several rooms — $1000-300010-hour train ride halfway across Ukraine (there & back) — $22-4015-minute taxi ride — $5-101 hour at tennis courts — $10-151 hour of bowling — $6-151 hour of table tennis at Hidropark island — $1.20Ice or roller-skating rink, depending on time of day — $4-10Admission to trendy night club: — $8-30Admission to concert of classical music — $5-20Decent umbrella — $8-25Average-sized novel — $4-8Unlicensed CD — $4-8Meal at McDonald’s — $3-6Meal at cafeteria-style restaurant "Puzata Khata” — $4-8Cup of tea in classy cafe — $1-4Cup of tea in inexpensive cafe — $0.50Hot dog on Khreschatik — $0.75Loaf of bread — $0.30Ride in "marshrutka" (minibus) — $0.25Ride in metro (subway) — $0.20Typical sum given to beggars — $0.06-0.25
