Let’s face it: everyone has heard about the women of Ukraine. But, while it seems that the whole world loves talking about Ukrainian women, there is significantly less info out there on their male counterparts. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, the online dating community seems to portray Ukrainian men in a negative fashion that is generally unwarranted. In light of this, we’re going to flip the script up a little bit. Today we’re talking all about Ukrainian men.
Why The Bad Reputation?
In the online dating space, there’s an overarching sentiment that there is something wrong with Ukrainian men.
From negative stereotypes to outright lies, it is as if their women must be “rescued” by thirsty men from the West.
Aside from my own personal love of living in Ukraine, it’s obvious there’s a huge amount of exaggeration, and even some outright lies in sentiments such as these. Some have gone as far as to make sweeping generalizations. They say that Ukrainian men are alcoholics, that they are poor, or even that they are abusive.
As someone who loves Ukrainian women and is friends with plenty of Ukrainian men, I hate reading this stuff. It’s clear that people with these attitudes have taken little time to really understand the situation in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, there is typically a bit of truth in every stereotype that exists.
The first one has to do with alcohol consumption.
Higher Than Average Mortality Rate
One thing that we know for sure is that women generally outnumber men in Ukraine. For a Western man looking to date in the country, this is the first big advantage he will see. It’s not uncommon for two women to desire a relationship with the same man of higher value.
It’s a nice change of pace from things in the West.
But, that’s where the lightheartedness ends.
We have to consider why exactly this is. Sadly, it has much to do with alcohol consumption creating a much higher than normal mortality rate for men under the age of 35.
Ukraine has the world’s second-highest death rate, mostly related to drinking, smoking and physical activity. The stereotype about Ukrainians being a group that drinks heavily is certainly true.
The average person consumes 13 cubic liters of alcohol each year. Vodka is the national beverage. Alcoholism is rampant among older men. It’s sad, but true, and it’s left a bad taste in the mouths of many Ukrainian women.
Beyond boozing alone, men in Eastern Europe tend to be at more risk for serious injury and early death than almost any other population on earth.
It’s not easy for a country to have the world’s second-highest death rate, especially one that is relatively peaceful such as. Ukraine. To understand why this is, you have to take a look at youth culture among young Ukrainian guys.
Have you ever seen those crazy “Russian daredevil” videos, where some 20-year-old kid from Eastern Europe is seen hanging from the ledge of a 50 story building?
No? Okay, here you go. Watch this video.
As you can see, this stuff isn’t a joke. Every young man goes through a bit of a reckless phase at one point or another. But, it’s particularly pronounced in a place like Ukraine.
If you’re now thinking “why the hell are these guys so crazy,” you’re on the right track. Of course, you could blame a whole host of issues. But, I personally tend to think it has much to do with plain old poverty.
Poverty in Ukraine
Let me ask you this: have you ever been poor?
Not just “having to pay the rent a week late” poor. I’m talking about the point where your future is uncertain.
I speak from experience. Poverty seriously messes with your head.
You’re simply not going to be at your best when you are poor. Nobody who is struggling to make ends meet is dishing out their hard-earned cash for expensive gym memberships, cool clothes, and premium dating apps that help you meet women.
All in all, being poor is generally a disaster for your state of mind. It’s particularly terrible when trying to date and pick up women.
The Money-Mindset Connection
When you’re more worried about keeping the bills paid at your family’s apartment in Kyiv, chances are you aren’t going to be in the mood to go approach the hot Natasha that lives down the hallway.
Hell, even if a lot of these guys did manage to muster up the courage to do so, many can’t even afford to take a girl on a basic date.
This is not meant to denigrate Ukrainian men. For the locals, life is hard in Ukraine, and I’d argue it’s particularly tough for men who are expected to be masculine providers.
They’re expected to provide, but it’s insanely hard to find a good job unless they do some serious hustling online like their digital nomad counterparts.
As it turns out, in a traditional culture like Ukraine, your financial standing is generally seen as tantamount to being a good candidate for a long term relationship.
Ukrainian Women & Money: They’re NOT “Gold Diggers”
Just as there’s a negative conception of Ukrainian men being philandering alcoholics, there’s an equally harmful stereotype of Ukrainian women simply being “gold diggers.”
Granted, there are definitely some scummy women out there who want to take your hard-earned cash. It is, for this reason, there are really only a few dating sites that we suggest using. Each of these specifically screens all members of the site before they approve their accounts, ensuring the experience is as safe as it is rewarding.
But, we have to remember that the type of people who do this are a very small subset of the population. For the most part, most Ukrainian women will not simply date a man because he either has more money than her. Or, they won’t consider a man for marriage just because he is from a more prosperous country where his earning potential is higher.
If that were the case, all women on earth would be flocking to 60-year-old men with fat retirement accounts. That being said, every country will have a select few girls who are interested in sugar dating and sponsorship game.
Obviously, money isn’t everything. But, it is something.
One of my favorite quotes about the relationship between success with women and money is as follows…
“Money facilitates spontaneity. Women don’t care about money, they care about having fun.”
And it’s absolutely true. Like Cindy Lauper always says…
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
If you think you’re going to woo a Ukrainian woman (or any woman, for that matter) by flashing screenshots of your bank statement and your American passport, you’ve got another thing coming.
But, there’s not a woman in the world who wouldn’t appreciate a spontaneous trip to a new city, where you travel on a nice enough flight and stay at a comfortable hotel. You enjoy a few nice meals on the way, and lavish in each other’s presence. You fall in love.
It’s how these things work. Haven’t you ever seen a romantic comedy?
Women melt over this kind of thing.
Love and genuine bonding with any girl tend to come about as a result of shared experiences. In either case, without having money, facilitating experiences such as this is challenging, if not impossible.
Of course, no quality woman is going to outright DEMAND that you take her on a vacation. But no woman would reasonably refuse such an offer with a man she finds attractive, either.
As you can see, Western men in a poor country like Ukraine have a huge advantage with their financial situation. Therefore their prospects with women are far improved as well.
Western Men Have An Advantage Over Ukrainian Men
Now, think back to the prior example of being a foreigner in Ukraine. Due to just how cheap it is, if you’re making even a meager online salary, you have the ability to facilitate a great deal of spontaneity and show your Ukrainian love interest a very good time.
Think about it: if she dates a local man, there’s a very low chance he will have his own place that’s not shared with roommates or family. Alone time will be tough to come by. Their dates will consist of small walks around the town, attending events that take place locally and sitting in the park.
There’s nothing wrong with this. If a girl truly loves you, she’ll put up with whatever situation you find yourself in just to be around you.
But, let’s not kid ourselves. Being an attractive, well off man in a place where most men are not is clearly going to be a huge help.
Now, think about this: if she’s dating you, you’re almost guaranteed to have a private apartment that’s probably nicer than the one she’s grown up in. You’ll likely have no problem paying $25 for a nice meal for two, going to “expensive” cocktail bars where you’ll still only be paying $5-6 per drink, and perhaps even going on a few cool trips a year together.
Ukrainian women are not gold-diggers. But, they are human.
This whole notion that the amount of money you have has nothing to do with the type of woman that you attract is categorically false. It’s lofty idealism at it’s very best.
Money is like oxygen. Most women could care less about how much you have, or even how you made it.
What women do care about is how you make them feel, and the things you do together.
And money will improve both your ability to make a woman feel, and to have new experiences together.
Traditionalism
Let’s not forget that there’s a level of traditionalism that exists in Eastern Europe where men are expected to provide for their women.
Feminism never really took hold in Eastern Europe.
While women are certainly integrated into the workforce in many of these countries, it’s generally accepted that the man is to be the breadwinner in a relationship.
To qualify as a strong, masculine man, you generally have to have the ability to pay for dates. You also must show the potential of being a stable longterm provider.
As it turns out, the two go hand in hand.
Let’s think of all of the traits of a wealthy man. He’s ambitious, he goes after what he wants, and he’s not too afraid of standing up for himself.
A side effect of these traits is often that you’ll be in good financial standing, as they’re the skills you need to make it today. Coincidentally, these are also some of the traits that most women find attractive.
Unfortunately, our Ukrainian brethren have been getting the short end of this stick for decades. A local Ukrainian man may work in a factory for less than $3 per hour, while a Western “digital nomad” can quite easily make hundreds each day on the internet.
Your Life vs. The Life of a Ukrainian Man
While you’re enjoying a cappuccino in a coffee shop that most Ukrainians have to spend a day’s salary just to visit, many of the guys you’ll be competing with wasting their lives serving an economy that is fundamentally broken.
So, you tell me. If you are a woman, who would be your logical choice? Would you choose to be with a local man who, while she may have a strong initial attraction for him, can’t afford to take her on a basic date and has an unstable financial future?
You have to remember, Ukrainian women are always thinking logically about the men they choose to date. There’s always the thought in the back of their mind if the relationship they are in could turn into a lifelong commitment.
Or, would she rather choose a man who she may be equally attracted to, and has the potential to help to create a lifestyle that breaks the cycle of poverty her family has been stuck in for years?
A man who can open her eyes to new experiences is naturally going to have a huge leg up on the competition.
This ain’t gold-digging. It’s just basic, human reason.
She doesn’t choose you because of your money, but your money makes you easier to choose.
Younger Generations Improving
A common adage in the men’s dating community is that of the Pareto principle.
The Pareto principle states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
This means that 20% of your customers provide 80% of your profit, that 20% of art is consumed by 80% of the population, and 20% of your products create 80% of your revenue.
When applied to dating, this means that 20% of the men are sleeping with 80% of the women.
Or, at the very least, 20% of men have the capability to sleep with 80% of the women.
In the United States and other sexually liberated countries, these numbers are even more extreme. Some estimate that it’s as high as 10% of the men sleeping with 90% of the women in more developed areas.
Ukraine is far, far more traditional than this.
Generally speaking, women are way less likely to sleep around. But, they will often knowingly go on dates and possibly sleep with one man while knowing that he is dating other women.
They know a truly high-value man is not as common in Ukraine, and that if they find one, they should hold onto him at all costs.
Even if it means he may date other women as well, many Ukrainian women will still stick by an above-average man.
For a man in this position, the world is quite literally his oyster.
The Top 20% of Ukrainian Men
As an expat in Ukraine, the path to becoming one of the top 20% of men in the country is relatively straightforward.
In the United States, a man may never reach his full potential. But, Ukraine offers a unique opportunity for expedited personal growth.
You could spend a few years working online. Saving your money, gradually scale your dainty income stream into a full-blown online business. You’d be amazed at what you can get paid for on the internet. You would be even more amazed at what you can outsource to others for half the cost.
Pro-tip: Check out our guide to working in Ukraine for some ideas on this.
Your living expenses would be 30% of what you’d pay in the USA. This allows you to reinvest your extra money back into yourself, or set it aside for savings.
You would start a rigorous physical fitness program, and maybe even hire a personal trainer for €5-€10 an hour. Maybe, you read a few books on fashion. And of course, go on plenty of dates and meet lots of Ukrainian women to improve your skills with them.
Even starting from scratch…you’d get there in 2-5 years, tops. You could have a ripped body, a fat savings account, and a few beautiful girlfriends in that time.
Here’s an analogy that I often swear by when I describe the experience of an expat in Ukraine…
Living in Ukraine as a foreigner is like living life on “easy mode.” Master easy mode, and you’ll eventually enter “god mode.”
The Upper Class in Ukraine
But, what about the native Ukrainian men who are in that upper 20%?
Individuals such as these typically come from families who are particularly industrious. They likely managed to take advantage of the developing market economies in countries like Ukraine.
When communism fell, many people became millionaires overnight. This is worthy of its own post in an of itself, but, just know this…
A select few were quite literally given massive amounts of property, factories, and other investments if they “knew someone” as the communist government imploded.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
It’s been 20 years since this happened, giving these new industries plenty of time to grow in the new capitalist economy. By now, these families are at oligarch level. They’re the ones buying $300,000 apartments in Kyiv and driving Bentley’s.
On the other hand, many of these guys may also just be members of criminal organizations who do engage in racketeering, oil smuggling, and perhaps even the drug trade.
It’s a bit more accepted to be involved in organized crime in Eastern Europe than in the West. If you’ve ever wondered how so many people manage to purchase exotic cars and have the latest iPhone in a country like Ukraine, this is also how.
Generally speaking, these are not people you have to worry much about, provided that you don’t get involved in what they’re doing. Even when dating abroad in a place like Ukraine, there is generally not much hostility towards foreigners dating their women.
In any case, a man like this will also do extremely well in Ukraine.
He will have his pick of the litter among the finest Ukrainian girls his city has to offer. His strong provider status, mixed with the fact that he’s a local where there is no real chance for miscommunications primes him for success.
As you can see, doing well in Ukraine has less to do with your foreign status, but more to do with your individual value as a man.
Be a High-Value Man
The moral of the story here is not to hate on any particular demographic. Instead, it’s simply to show that it pays to be a high-value man, no matter what culture you live in.
But, as a Westerner, it’s generally easier to become a high-value man while living in a place like Ukraine. This is due to the low cost of living, a traditional culture that values men, and an abundance of beautiful girls.
And of course, in a country where the local economy is in shambles and where women are encouraged to be as beautiful as possible, Ukraine presents a “perfect storm” of factors that make it extremely desirable for an ambitious man.
Like any other population of people, there’s going to be those who absolutely excel and those who lag behind. As a man, it’s your job to try to get into that upper echelon.
And, I tend to think that an expat lifestyle is the best way of doing so. But, you must also consider that expats are not the only ones who want to maximize their potential.
The Sins of Our Fathers
You have to remember that times are certainly changing in Ukraine.
“Forgive me for the sins of my father,” many young Ukrainian men seem to be saying. A whole legion of young guys have shaken off the communist mentality of their parents and want to participate in the new, global economy.
They too, want a piece of the action.
The problem with many poorer countries is that the best and brightest find a way to get out. Through sheer will, determination, and a few well-placed connections, they often find ways to get second passports, work abroad, and leave behind their home country.
This is great, for them. What is left, however, is a country that the most skillful and intelligent have abandoned. Perhaps this is why Ukrainian men get such a poor reputation…the best often leave the country.
And, what about for those unable to do this?
Sure, you have your hooligans and your higher than average alcohol consumption per capita. But, there’s an entire generation of young men in Ukraine who really not that different from you.
They’ve begun to wise up and stop looking for business opportunities in the country. They realize that their labor is worth far more on the internet when traded for US dollars. In this group, you’ll find bitcoin traders, digital marketers, drop shippers, and many other men who know what it means to put in the work needed.
Whether or not they will succeed, or they will fail, is another topic entirely. Their future, unfortunately, largely rests in forces that are outside their control.
Conclusion
There is always going to be a sect of women in the population who date men that are not native to their home countries.
For people from the West, this is a hard topic to understand as the country is literally made out of foreigners. Americans, as a whole, tend to not share much of national identity. Ukrainians, on the other hand, definitely do.
All in all, understanding the unique situation that Ukrainian men are in is essential when learning just why a place like Ukraine is so ripe for the picking. At the same time, we should understand the struggle that these men face, and realize that they’re not entirely different from us.
Real recognizes real, as they say.
As someone who’s living in Ukraine, I find it important to be respectful to the local culture, which largely involves establishing positive relationships with both Ukrainian women and men alike.
In the best of scenarios, you can spread prosperity in the region. As an ambitious man, you can create job opportunities for locals as a result of what I would hope to be a growing online business for yourself.
Above all else…I encourage expats to understand that, despite the fact that the word “privilege” is thrown around pretty mercilessly today, being a Westerner in a poor country certainly comes with a huge level of just that.
Privilege.
Privilege to have been born in America.
The privilege of being a native English speaker.
The privilege that comes from being from a capitalist country.
It’s real.
Use it wisely.
By the way, if you stumbled upon this article because you’re interested in dating Ukrainian women, I highly suggest you check out this website.
As more Westerners explore and set up shop in Eastern Europe, they often wonder if the services they use and rely on will work in countries like Ukraine. While millions of people rely on payment processing services each day, some are more well-received in certain countries than others. Today, we’re discussing one of the most popular questions we receive here at Expat Ukraine: “Does Paypal work in Ukraine?”
Does Paypal Work in Ukraine?
Like most things in Ukraine, it’s tricky.
The answer is: yes, and no.
You can certainly access Paypal from Ukraine, carry out transactions, and use the service. The website is not blocked, and the mobile app works just fine.
If you’re Ukrainian, you can basically forget about using Paypal. Ukrainians are not eligible to sign up for the service, due to ridiculous currency controls from the Ukrainian government. The great irony here is that this just further complicates the lives of people who are already struggling economically.
In other words, if you’re trying to send a little cash to a friend in Ukraine, chances are you won’t be using Paypal to do so.
On top of that, you cannot link a Ukrainian bank account to your Paypal account. Then again, there is absolutely no reason to use the banking system in Ukraine.
Unlike in the United States, the money you place into an account is not insured. In fact, during the last financial crisis, many of the largest banks in the country collapsed, and depositors lost a big chunk, if not all of their savings.
That’s right. Gone, just like that. Can you imagine? Better yet, plenty of people still use these very same banks today!
Like it or not, it’s things like this that make Ukraine akin to being the wild, wild West. And, like many things in a developing country, using Paypal will simply require a little ingenuity on your part.
How To Make Paypal Work in Ukraine
Fortunately for Westerners, there are a few easy tips you can follow to continue using Paypal while living in Ukraine. I have done so for years, and currently, I use the service each day.
1. Sign up for a Paypal account before going abroad.
2. Sign up for a Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account.
This is one of the only bank accounts that allow you to make surcharge-free withdrawals at any ATM on earth. The Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account is the best bank account you can have as an expat. Period.
That’s right. They will refund every ATM fee you may encounter, no questions asked.
There are no foreign transaction fees or anything like that. The account is fully FDIC insured. It’s a free account that charges you nothing to use your money, whatsoever. If you’re an expat with a normal bank account, chances are you’re getting slammed with extra fees every time you use your debit card or withdraw money from the ATM.
Best of all, if you make a withdraw in Ukraine, it will usually have the option of dispensing in either dollars or hryvnia, depending on the ATM.
3. Link the two.
Again, very obvious. You have to fund your Paypal account somehow.
This should take no more than 5 minutes.
4. Receive payments via Paypal, use Ukrainian ATMs to withdrawl cash, and rejoice.
And, now you have a completely free, safe way of sending and receiving money and getting cold, hard cash while living in one of the Easternmost parts of Europe.
I can get paid via Paypal, and withdraw cash in the Ukrainian currency whenever I need to pay rent, purchase groceries or hit the bars.
For years, this has one of the biggest hurdles of living in Ukraine. But today, it’s easily solved by a few simple steps.
Alternatives
If you haven’t already noticed, the steps above will only work if you’re a Westerner. Like I said earlier, if you’re Ukrainian, Paypal is generally off the table for you.
But honestly, that’s fine. There are numerous payment processors that you can use as a Ukrainian citizen, and Paypal kind of sucks for sending international transfers anyways.
If you’re sending money and it involves a currency exchange, you can pretty much guarantee that Paypal is going to gouge you on the exchange rate before charging a 3% fee, no matter the amount! It’s a total racket, and honestly, I avoid using Paypal from time to time for that reason.
Paypal is great for receiving and sending payments in one currency. But, you’ll find it pretty useless, if not cumbersome for anything beyond that.
If you’re ineligible to use Paypal in Ukraine, or you are getting paid by a Ukrainian company, I suggest checking out one of the following services instead…
TransferWise – My personal favorite. The lowest fees out of any money transfer service, wire transfers that take less than 24 hours, and grade A customer support. You can hook your TransferWise account to almost any bank account in the world.
Payoneer – A decent Paypal alternative for accepting payments. While I suggest you use Transferwise, Payoneer only charges a 1% transfer fee, maxing out at 10 euros.
Skrill – Another decent money transfer service where you can both send and receive international payments. While fewer people use the platform than either Transferwise or Payoneer, transfers are completely free if you meet a certain number of transactions each year.
Conclusion
With a little bit of finagling, you can certainly use Paypal while living in Ukraine. If you can’t seem to make it work, there are plenty of alternatives to ensure that you will still be able to send and receive payments while living abroad.
PS: If you’re reading this because you’re interested in meeting in Ukrainian women, I suggest you check out this website. You won’t be disappointed!
So, let’s say you’re ready to make the big move and start living abroad. Great news! Whether you’ve been tempted by low prices, a lovely culture or even just some seriously beautiful girls, there’s plenty of reasons to pack up and head to Ukraine. But, this leaves the issue of having to make money abroad. Today, we’re talking all about jobs in Ukraine and the many options that exist for ambitious expats who want to build a life outside of the USA.
Can You Get Jobs in Ukraine?
Generally speaking, it’s not worth it to get a job in Ukraine.
The fact of the matter is that the country is extremely poor and has an abysmal job market. Let’s not forget that the average person in Ukraine makes roughly $400 per month.
While most Ukrainian companies may welcome a foreigner with open arms, they’ll be confused as to why you would choose to work for such a low salary.
Chances are, you don’t want to be in this category. If you’re living in Ukraine and from the West, you want to take advantage of an extremely favorable exchange rate where the smallest internet-based income will put you in the top 20% of earners in the country.
What About Language Schools?
The classic “job” that most expats will get is teaching English.
It seems like the perfect gig…at first.
If you’re from the West, you have native proficiency in the language. It requires no additional skills to be learned and can serve as a way of networking in a new country. What’s not to love?
This can work in places like Russia, but the salary will often be abysmal in Ukraine. In fact, teaching English in Russia can actually be a pretty good deal if you get the required certifications.
It’s not uncommon for people to make as little as $2 an hour in entry-level teaching positions.
Why waste your time doing this?
If this is something you’re planning on doing, I suggest you reconsider. The fact is, there are far better alternatives out there than slaving away at a dead-end English teaching job in a developing country.
These days, however, it seems that the best opportunities are often online.
As such, one option is to secure a job that allows you to work from home prior to heading abroad.
Working Remote For A Company
Considering that millions of Americans are now working from home, what’s to stop you from working from Ukraine instead of working from wherever your company believes you are? It might be against company policy, or it might not.
You make that determination. I’ve met plenty of people doing just this.
If you can handle the time difference, it’s a perfectly viable option to simply log into work from your computer while living abroad. You’ll still be paid in the same fashion, and you generally have access to your US based bank accounts anywhere you are in the world today.
Granted, you’ll have to be in a position with a company that lets you do this in the first place.
Alternatively, you could search for a Western-based company that has offices in Ukraine.
Finding A Western Company in Ukraine
Plenty of US-based companies have begun setting up shop in Ukraine. This is largely to take advantage of cheap labor that exists there. Think about it: if a big company can employ Ukrainians for $5 an hour instead of paying Americans $15 for the same work, there’s a big win to be had profit-wise.
This is known as outsourcing, and it’s absolutely huge right now. Now, as I said before, you don’t want to be in the category of people working for $5 an hour. But foreign offices still need support from their American counterparts to function effectively from time to time.
Whether it’s just having a Western perspective on business decisions, or even a low-level secretarial job that requires perfect English, there are definitely opportunities here.
So, what’s stopping you from applying at one of these companies, with the explicit stipulation that you would like to work in Ukraine instead of locally in the United States? Granted, you will need a pretty strong resume to get your foot in the door. And, having Russian or Ukrainian language skills would certainly set you apart as well.
Even still, I’d imagine that most American workers are reluctant to take a foreign job assignment in a place like Ukraine. As someone who is applying with this goal in mind, you could very well stand out from the pack.
The following companies have established offices in Kyiv and Lviv.
But, let’s be honest. Some of us just don’t want to work corporate jobs. That’s why many of us wanted to move abroad in the first place. If this sounds like you, I implore you to consider becoming a freelancer when learning how to make money abroad.
Freelancing: The Bread and Butter of Learning How To Make Money Abroad
The majority of expats that you meet while traveling are freelancers. While this term might be intimidating, it simply means that they are an independent contractor who sells their services to businesses instead of working as an employee.
Let’s say you are a skilled graphic designer. You can likely take a corporate job and be their in-house guy to handle all design matters, or you can operate your own business which they consult with on a case-to-case basis.
Doing the second option would make you a freelancer. And, if you’ve haven’t already figured out, you can freelance from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.
Think about your unique skillset. What are you good at? What can you become good at? The internet is a big, big place, and I personally believe that anybody can find a way to make a living with it.
While selling sunglasses at the mall isn’t exactly something you can start a freelancing business with, you can definitely work to pick up some marketable skills that will enable you to live anywhere you want.
In fact, let’s talk about some other freelancer careers that are popular among expats.
Copywriting
Copywriting is an interesting field. It generally means that you are writing technical, written works that can be used in advertising, websites, branding, or even academics.
Believe it or not, some freelance copywriters can make well over $100 per small blog post.
The dream scenario in a job like this is to pick up so many clients that you can begin hiring others to do the work.
This way, you can cash in on cheap labor in countries such as Ukraine, but only if their English levels are near perfect. This business model allows you to essentially scale to infinity, with some of the top performers making millions each year handling copywriting for businesses.
This is one that’s very easy to get started on. Even if you don’t aspire to run a large-scale agency, you can begin finding writing jobs online TODAY.
Sites such as Upwork are fantastic for this, and while you may have to do a few low paid, tedious jobs to get your foot in the door and build up your reputation, your efforts can pay off hugely in the future.
But, what if you’re not such a great writer? Well, one of the best (and most profitable) ways of improving your writing is by starting a blog.
Blogging
Blogging has forever been a long-time favorite for location independent entrepreneurs.
Not only does blogging allow you to sharpen your writing skills, but if you begin to build up an audience of readers, you can start monetizing it using sponsored posts, selling ad-space, and various other methods.
Some blogs exist only to make money. Others are for more artistic purposes. While Expat Ukraine makes a small amount of revenue each month, this is predominately a blog that’s designed to help others as a passion project.
The first thing you must do to get started is to choose what you are going to blog about! For someone who is actively traveling around, starting a blog about the places you visit can be a fantastic way to break in. While it’s a crowded market, it’s an evergreen one as well.
Once you’ve settled on a niche, you have to purchase hosting and a domain name. For these purposes, I suggest using Bluehost and GoDaddy. A year of hosting and a domain can host as little as $50, a fantastic investment if you consider some people make a full time living from blogging.
What’s more, is that once you have one blog up and running, you can very easily start another and continue building your online business repertoire.
Pro-tip: If you’re interested in productivity hacks, I highly suggest you check out Modafinil.
Teaching English Online: A Decent Enough Way To Make Money Abroad
Now, I know that we dismissed being an English teacher earlier on in this post. But, if you look at the options that exist for teaching English online, the deal becomes far sweeter.
Blogging and copywriting can take a little while to build up both a reputation and a client base, and some of us need to start getting paid ASAP. For someone in this situation, it makes far more sense to get a job teaching English online.
Some companies, such as VIPKid, allow you to connect with Chinese students where you can make as much as $18-$21 per hour teaching basic phrases, grammar, and sentence structure.
If you do the math, this can be a pretty nice side hustle, and a great way to get started making money online.
Assuming you’re making $20 an hour and working 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, you’re looking at $500 of weekly profit. For a country like Ukraine, that’s pretty huge. You’ll have absolutely no problem having a fantastic little lifestyle off of a salary like that.
While there are a few companies that are great for this, VIPKid constantly comes in as being the best service out there. It takes a few days to submit your documents and get approved, so I suggest starting ASAP if this is something you’re interested in.
Conclusion: Jobs in Ukraine Are Few & Far Between…
The title says it all. Moving abroad to get a job in Ukraine would classify as a downgrade for most people living in the West.
On the other hand, working online and earning a Western salary while living in Ukraine allows you to live like a king.
We choose to live abroad and have an international lifestyle because we want to live the best life we can. The best asset you have in a situation like this is a location independent income stream that lets you make money abroad. While it may take some thinking, and a fair amount of work to create, I can tell you that it is absolutely a worthwhile investment.
There are few countries that suffer from more stereotypes than Ukraine. Whenever I traveled to the country, I was literally overwhelmed with people listing every stereotype about Ukraine under the sun. Whether it was saying that the country is poor, that it’s dangerous, or even that it’s part of Russia, it was truly never-ending. Fortunately, in today’s post, we’re separating fact from fiction about what it’s actually like to live in Ukraine.
Ukraine Is Poor: Partially True
Sadly, this one hits the nail right on the head. Ukraine is the second poorest country in Europe, next to Moldova.
But, just because the country is poor does not mean that you have to be as well. Will the general poverty of the nation really impact your day to day life?
In our opinion, not really. Yes, the infrastructure isn’t the best. Dealing with everyday bureaucracy can be a serious pain, and you’ll be often be reminded of how the average person there is only making $400 a month.
But, these are all small concerns for someone who gets to reap the rewards of being a rich person.
Making as little as $40,000 a year will put you into the top 5% of earners in the country. The world will literally be your oyster, and you will often find that you can generally afford to purchase whatever you want without worrying about the costs.
Ukraine is great for someone who has a remote income source that pays a standard, Western wage in euros, pounds or dollars. As we’ve mentioned previously, it is extremely possible to have a very high standard of living in Ukraine for the fraction of the price that it would cost elsewhere.
If you walk down the street in Kyiv, you’ll see plenty of BMW’s, Mercedes, Maseratis and even a few Bentleys. Men will be wearing Rolexes, and women decked out in designer fashions.
Sometimes, it can be easy to forget you’re in a “poor” country.
Best of all, the country is far safer than most developed nations.
Ukraine Is Dangerous: The Most Inaccurate of the Stereotypes About Ukraine
Now this one is just funny.
The United States currently has a huge problem with mass shootings and violent crime. In the United States, there were 348 mass shootings in 2018. That’s nearly one for every single day of the year!
The United Kingdom, even though they’ve banned guns, there is an epidemic of stabbings and crimes involving knives. In 2018, there were over 40,000 violent crimes involving knives in the country.
There’s a strange trend that you see in the world, is that in the more developed countries, there tends to be a breakdown of the traditional values that once held society together. With this comes a whole host of consequences, and an increase in violent crime is one of them.
In Ukraine? There hasn’t been a mass shooting since 2004. There is no epidemic of knife crime either. The biggest problem that the country faces is corruption, or when an elected official will take money to carry out the agenda of some powerful oligarch.
Hardly something that you have to worry about.
Police taking street bribes is largely a thing of the past. While this was an issue in the early 2000s, Ukraine has actually done a pretty good job of cleaning up the police departments as to not scare away tourists.
That’s not to say that there is no crime in Ukraine whatsoever, but to say that it’s a dangerous country? That’s just ridiculous.
Now, there’s plenty of things to criticize Ukraine for, but safety is not one of them.
One of them that is pretty fair, however, are the cold winters the country faces.
It’s Cold in Ukraine: True
You know, as much as I love to debunk stereotypes, there’s a bit of truth here.
But, let’s keep in mind that Ukraine is only cold during the wintertime. If you’re from the Northern USA or Western Europe, you’ve absolutely experienced similarly cold temperatures.
In fact, Ukraine’s continental climate is extremely pleasant during the spring and summertime. During summer, temperatures will often reach as high as 26 ° C, or 78 ° F. It’s warm enough to be comfortable, but not hot enough to need air conditioning.
In fact, in regions like Odessa, the temperature is very reasonable most of the year. There’s a beach there, after all!
So yes, while Ukraine does have some brutal winters, it’s nothing you can’t handle. In fact, we dedicated a whole post on how to survive the Ukrainian winter.
Plus, with a few drinks with the locals, you’ll be keeping plenty warm.
Ukrainians Drink…A Lot: Partially True
If there’s another big stereotype that befalls Ukraine, it’s that people there drink excessively.
This is also partially true. Ukraine is the world’s sixth heaviest drinking country. The per capita consumption of alcohol is roughly 13 liters per year, a rather high number when compared to most Western countries.
Generally speaking, Ukrainians do drink more as a whole than other groups of people. Alcoholism, as a whole, tends to be a factor that impacts older men in Ukraine more so than any other demographic. Up to 38% of men are said to be heavy drinkers, with up to 5% of the male population being full-blown alcoholics.
Yikes. If you’ve ever hung around with an alcoholic, you know this is not a good thing.
But, let’s not forget about the binge drinking culture that exists in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Hell, half of all American college students are said to be guilty of regularly binge drinking.
If you visit the “party district” of any major American city, you’re going to see people literally passed out on the ground, puking their guts out.
This just doesn’t happen in Ukraine, for the most part. While the men do tend to drink more than average, you could say there’s a more mature drinking culture and people are far more capable of controlling their alcohol intake than the average Westerner.
Yes, it’s totally reasonable to say that alcohol can be a problem in Ukraine, but same with everywhere else on the planet.
What’s not nearly as reasonable is to think that Ukraine is part of Russia.
Ukraine is a Communist & Part of Russia: False
Okay, now this one is just plain dumb. Out of all of the stereotypes that exist about Ukraine, this one is by far the silliest.
Ukraine has been an independent country since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. For those who don’t know their history, this marked the fall of the last major large communist government on the planet.
There is, however, a territorial dispute with Russia over a region of Ukraine known as Crimea right now. While an entire post could be written on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia essentially annexed a seaside region of the country in 2014.
So yes, a small part of Ukraine has fallen under Russian control, though the conflict has largely gone cold. As of 2019, Ukraine is a strong, independent country that has opened its doors to business with the rest of the world.
While they have a long way to go before seeing Western levels of development (thankfully), you can be sure you won’t be running into many communists there.
Beautiful Girls – The Truest of the Stereotypes About Ukraine
Well, I’d be lying if I said that this wasn’t true.
Perhaps the biggest stereotype about Ukraine is that the women are drop-dead gorgeous. Luckily for you, this is absolutely true for the most part.
Ukrainian girls are, by and large, short, thin and grow their hair long. There is a fundamental belief in the country that women are to present themselves as being feminine, fashionable, and well kept. You see this as a trend all across Eastern Europe, with it being most pronounced in Ukraine.
While a girl in the United States may only get seriously dressed up a few times a month, many Ukrainian women will be dressed up like she’s going on a date for a simple trip to the grocery store.
This has much to do with a culture that values traditional gender roles and a general trend of Ukrainian women wanting to attract the highest quality man that they can.
Conclusion – Are The Stereotypes About Ukraine True?
The answer to this question, like many things in life, is not entirely black and white. The most common stereotypes about Ukraine range from being completely spot on to being 100% false. Like all countries in the world, you must take the good with the bad and accept the country for what it is.
While the country may have some faults, it is by and large a beautiful, inexpensive place to live that is filled to the brim with beautiful women.
And, if you want to meet some beautiful Ukrainian girls, or even just have a look at what the country has to offer, I encourage you to check out this website.
It seems that everywhere we look these days, everyone is talking about Lviv, Ukraine…and who can blame them? With centuries of beautiful architecture, some of the lowest prices in Ukraine, and a thriving food and restaurant scene, it’s hard not to fall in love with Lviv. All things considered, who wouldn’t want to live there? Luckily for you, today we’re going to tell you exactly what it’s like to live in Ukraine’s cultural capital.
Basic Information & Background
Lviv may be the biggest small town on earth.
Believe it or not, Lviv was actually not even a part of Ukraine until 1939 after the German-Soviet Invasion of Poland. Historically being part of Poland, the USSR, Austria Hungary, and even Nazi Germany at one point, the city is bursting with history.
Some of it is good, and some of it is bad. But, all of it is certainly interesting.
If you’re a history buff, you’ll be well entertained in Lviv. With numerous free, guided tours that take place around the city, you’ll find plenty of objects of interest. From decaying Communist architecture to a few locations historically significant to WWII, Lviv may be one of the most historically inclined cities I’ve ever visited.
Looking at the skyline in Lviv reveals an eclectic mix of architectural styles that, when paired with one another, make for a very interesting flavor.
But, the visual sites won’t be the only flavor you enjoy during your stay in Lviv.
City of Lions, Chocolate, and Coffee
Lviv is nicknamed “Leopolis,” literally translating to the “city of Lions.”
While you’d be hard-pressed to find a living, breathing lion anywhere, there are statues of lions almost everywhere in the town. This is because of an old piece of folklore that claims that in ancient times, a lion was tasked with protecting the city from invaders.
While the lion had to give his life protecting the princess, he gave an oath to forever protect Lviv. As the legend has it, a statue miraculously appeared as the lion laid dying, making the lion the enduring symbol of the city today.
Pretty neat, huh?
Regarding chocolate, there is an active handmade chocolate scene in Lviv. The Lviv Handmade Chocolate Factory is one of the best sites to see in town. They even have branches in Kyiv! That’s how popular it is.
Of course, coffee is absolutely integral to the culture of Lviv as well. If you’re a digital nomad who loves working from coffee houses, you’re in luck. Lviv may have a coffee shop scene that rivals far more developed countries. The town is big enough that you can try all of them at least once.
All things considered, quality of life in Lviv is really quite high when compared with the rest of Ukraine.
Price & Quality of Life in Lviv, Ukraine
Lviv was once Ukraine’s best-kept secret. While the cat is out of the bag, the town hasn’t been spoiled…yet.
In fact, most Ukrainians would say that it is, by far, the most comfortable city in Ukraine. Even though the city is 25% the size of Kyiv, there’s hardly any traffic. There’s no metro because the city is small enough to get aroun without one. While you can take the streetcar for 5 UAH (approximately .10 cents), the city is extremely walkable.
Needless to say, Lviv is cheap.
Ridiculously cheap. Laughably cheap, even.
While there are still plenty of places for you to blow your hard-earned cash, you may find it hard to do so. Lviv consistently ranks in at one of the cheapest cities to live in on the planet, rivaling even cities in India and Pakistan.
Pro-tip: check the global cost of living index for updated information on what it costs to live around the world.
You’ve heard it before, but I’ll say it again.
You can get a gourmet cup of coffee for $1, have a delicious lunch for $4, take an Uber from the airport to the city center for $3.50, and buy a cocktail in a club for $5.
All in all, you’d be hard-pressed to spend over $1,400 a month.
Getting To Lviv, Ukraine
Getting to Lviv from anywhere in Ukraine is very easy. It’s just a short train ride away from Kyiv, and tickets are dirt cheap.
But, traveling by train isn’t the only cheap transport in Lviv right now.
In fact, Lviv is home to some of the cheapest flights in Europe.
Budget airline RyanAir has just moved into the town’s international launch off point, Lviv Danylo Airport. Now, the common stereotype is that when cheap flights begin to route through the best towns in Eastern Europe, they quickly become ruined by British stag parties and other “undesirable” tourists.
Lviv has held up pretty well against this. It’s just not well known enough as a city like Prague or Budapest, and seriously lacks the nightlife scene of those places. Even still, it is still pretty good if you know what you’re looking for.
The silver lining here is that some curious expats are actually using Lviv as a home base, traveling out as needed to surrounding countries.
Think about it: you can fly to London from Lviv for as little as $40 if purchased far enough in advance.
That’s about as much as it costs to get from the airport to the city center in most other European countries. While it’s an unconventional approach, traveling businessmen can live in Lviv for pennies on the dollar. And they’re just a quick plane ride away from Europe’s capital cities.
This is one area where the city has a huge leg-up on Kyiv, bringing us to our next point.
Is Lviv better than Kyiv?
Lviv vs. Kyiv
Living in Kyiv can be kind of a hassle from time to time. Much of your day will be spent commuting. The traffic is horrendous. The city is absolutely massive, and during the winter, can occasionally look a little bit like a post-apocalyptic, decaying Soviet city.
Oh wait, it kind of is…
Now, that’s not to disparage Kyiv. It’s a great city. But, it doesn’t quite sweep the competition.
Compare this to Lviv, and the differences could not be starker. It is simply a stunning city and can feel more like Paris or Vienna. Of course, you still have the general sense of disrepair that is common in most of Ukraine. But, as they say, “it’s Ukraine.”
You really can’t compare Lviv to Kyiv. The fact is that they are two very, very different cities. Kyiv is like a much less multicultural, far cheaper New York City. Lviv is a gorgeous, comopolitan little town near the Polish border.
If you’re a big city person, you may get bored in Lviv rather quickly. As we discussed in our Lviv nightlife guide, you can easily see all there is to see in Lviv in just under a month.
At the same time, you’re a little more cut off from the rest of the world in Lviv. For example, won’t find some American brand name clothing stores such as H&M in Lviv. The city just isn’t big enough to justify setting up shop there.
Even still, with just how cheap both live in and commute out of Lviv, it’s an attractive option for any digital nomad.
The Fastest Growing City in Ukraine
Look at the numbers. Tourism to Lviv is growing more than any other Ukrainian city every year!
Realistically, this means that Lviv is going to be a hotbed for development over the next decade. You can still purchase flats for under $1,000 USD per square meter in the city center, and even less once you start to venture further away. I’d imagine that these prices are going to rise up quite dramatically in the coming years.
Ask anybody whose been going to Lviv for more than 5 years, and they’ll be the first to tell you that the city is growing each and every year. While there used to be virtually no expats there, there is now a small, albeit thriving scene of remote workers, digital nomads, and even entrepreneurs who have discovered the city.
Oracle has an office there, as does Price Waterhouse Cooper, and SoftServe.
It’s become a major hub for IT outsourcing, explaining why you’ll occasionally run into groups of American IT workers at the city’s many bars. If you’re an American worker who’s being transferred to Lviv for an assignment, don’t worry. Chances are, you’ll enjoy the city just as much as your compadres.
Ukrainian culture is known for being rather cold and standoffish. Luckily, Lviv has a vibe that is certainly far more approachable than the rest of the country.
The Local Culture of Lviv, Ukraine
Lviv differs quite greatly from the rest of Ukraine.
This can be a good thing, or a bad thing depending on your tastes.
For one, they don’t speak Russian for the most part.
That’s not to say that you can’t get around there with your Russian speaking skills, but they may be frowned upon ever so slightly. Lviv takes pride in the fact that they very much have their own microculture within Ukraine.
A big, big part of that is that they insist on speaking Ukrainian when possible.
You can also see this by the way people dress. Lviv has a bit of a “hipster chic” type of style as opposed to the high heeled, heavily made-up style that’s popular in the rest of Ukraine.
This is not a bad thing, per se. The women of Lviv are still beautiful in their own, unique type of way.
On the flip side, if you spend enough time in Lviv, you’ll see that people can have a bit of a “haughty” type of attitude.
The local sentiment can be somewhat nationalistic, proud of where they are from, and even believing that they’re better than everyone else.
This is kind of hilarious…as it takes but a quick look back at history to see that the nobility that once lived in the city in the early 1900s were all chased out under Communist policies of liquidation.
Their gorgeous, Austro-Hungarian homes were redistributed to the poorest villagers from the outskirts. Of course, their descendants still live there today in homes that they were given for free.
The irony that people from Lviv believe themselves to be better than everywhere else in Ukraine is pretty thick. It is, by and large, the distant relatives of the poorest Ukrainians who are living in housing that was stolen from the rich…and given to the poor.
Even still, this is a minor detail. You won’t notice it without spending a lot of time in Lviv.
And if you’re the type of person who truly enjoys the city, you’ll find the benefits to far outweigh the negatives.
Women in Lviv certainly differ from the rest of Ukraine.
As we pointed out previously, Lviv is very much a “hipster” type of town. Heartbreakingly, wearing high heels isn’t as common in Lviv. As the whole city is built on cobblestone streets, wearing heels can be a bit dangerous as the girls can easily break their ankle if their heel gets caught in the street.
The upside here is that while the women are certainly Ukrainian, they’re far more approachable than the rest of the country. When meeting women any other city in Ukraine, you’ll often be hit with questions about the purpose of your trip. They’ll be incredibly skeptical that a Western man would willingly choose to visit their city.
Lviv, on the other hand, is one of the most touristic cities in the country. While most girls there have not actually interacted with the groups of tourists who come, it’s not entirely out of the question to pay a visit.
Many men laud Lviv as being just traditional enough to find girls that are relatively chaste. In other words, girls from Lviv aren’t the type to listen to Nicki Minaj. They often come from conservative families and believe in old school gender roles. Even still, it’s not some random village in the middle of nowhere, either. It’s a quickly modernizing, European town.
Luckily for you, you don’t have to hop on a plane to Lviv to start meeting the many beautiful women that live in the city. Instead, you can use our favorite dating app for Ukrainian girls to start matching right now!
We get this question all the time, and for good reason.
In many ways, Lviv is the perfect city.
It is dirt cheap, extremely relaxed, and full to the brim of beautiful women. As a foreigner, you’re just enough of a novelty enough to stick out, but not enough to raise any eyebrows. You can easily set up shop there, and if you make even the tiniest salary from the internet, know you’re going to be well off.
If you’re the type of person who likes to law low, do their work, and enjoy the city they live in, Lviv is a fantastic choice for you.
If, on the other hand, you’re a bit more of a social butterfly who likes to party, Kyiv is a better option for you. Lviv can quickly get boring to the more thrill-seeking of us. Plus, your opportunities for business networking are much smaller than in bigger cities.
On the other hand, Kharkiv is said to offer a middle ground between the two. But, it has far worse English and is far more isolated from the rest of the world than either Lviv or Kyiv.
Regardless of which camp you fit into, I wish you luck in your exploration. Lviv is a great town to visit when exploring Ukraine.
At Expat Ukraine, we’re huge fans of Lviv, Ukraine. When one of our writers recently spent a three month period there working on a consulting project, I knew he had to write a guide on the city’s nightlife. He’s a big city guy who works in Kyiv quite often, with Lviv being the smallest place he’s ever lived. To put it simply—he’s a serious expert when it comes to nightlife. While Lviv certainly is no Las Vegas, it’s clear that there are definitely plenty of good times to be had while visiting. Today, we present to you: The Expert’s Guide To to Lviv Ukraine Nightlife.
Without further ado, I’ll hand it off to him.
Nightlife in Lviv, Ukraine: Does It Exist?
Lviv is not exactly the first place you think of when looking for a “party city,” and that’s a good thing. I lived in Berlin for five years, but have now relocated to Kyiv. Every so often, I’m sent to Lviv for up to a few months on end, and I’ve found the nightlife scene there to be surprisingly good…if you know where to look.
The positive side is that Lviv is a student town, with about 20,000 college students moving into the city every school year. For many of these fresh-faced college girls, Lviv is the first time they’ve ever left their even smaller town or village. Considering they have never lived away from their parents before, many of them are ready to get a little crazy and do what young people do…party.
Simply put: there is an abundance of beautiful girls in Lviv. For a bachelor looking to spend some time in Ukraine, Lviv is an excellent choice.
Tacky or Cool?
Nightlife in Lviv, Ukraine gets a bad rep because to be completely fair, there are plenty of tacky nightclubs that play horrible music all over town. If you’re looking for quality nightlife and you go in unprepared, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Unlike in Kyiv, you can’t just bounce around the city center and find something cool.
Instead, you have to know where you’re going. Fortunately for you, this list will provide you with more than enough options to keep your nights plenty active while in Lviv.
In fact, there are actually a few decent nightclubs in town that you should know about.
The Best Clubs in Lviv – Period.
Malevich Night Club – If you’re into the standard clubbing experience, definitely check this place out. It is surprising, but in Lviv, you have one of the largest nightclubs in all of Eastern Europe. Malevich is currently the go-to hotspot in Lviv, and for good reason. The club is open every night of the week, and there’s always a decent enough crowd to justify popping in. The facilities themselves are beautiful, and I often wonder how someone got the money to build this place in Ukraine. It’s freaking massive, with top quality sound and lighting. Best of all, prices are very reasonable by Western standards, and you can easily make reservations and get bottle service for under $75. It also goes without saying that the quality of the girls in this place is seriously off the charts. There’s also a strip club on the second floor of the club called Pink Show Girls.
Fashion Club – I’ve been coming to Lviv long enough to remember when this place used to be the coolest spot in town. Now, Malevich has taken that title. My, my, how Ukraine nightlife has changed! That being said, Fashion Club is located just steps away from Rynok Square. Prices are similar to Malevich, though it’s usually a much smaller, slightly older crowd. It costs maybe ₴150 ($5) to get in, so I’d say it’s worth checking out during your nights out in Lviv.
De Luxe – Even though this place is nowhere near the center, it’s a decent club for Lviv. Here, you’ll find a far more local crowd as most travelers won’t venture out from the city center to go to a nightclub. While it’s smaller than both Malevich and Fashion Club, you’ll find some unexpectedly talented DJs here and some seriously cute girls. Here, you’ll be a bit more exotic to the local girls. If you’re looking to meet someone, I’d try it out.
Other than these three, I can’t really suggest most other clubs in Lviv. Every time I went to Rafinad, METRO or Piccasso, I always regretted it afterward. While none of these places are dangerous, they’ll overcharge you at the door, they book horrible DJs, and are decorated like it’s 2003. On top of that, each of these places is predominately a Turkish nightclub. Anybody who has dealt with Turkish tourists in Ukraine knows it’s a headache that’s best avoided. Deviate from my recommendations at your own risk!
Bars: Usually The Worst Part of Ukraine Nightlife
As you may have noticed already, Ukraine is not the typical “bar scene” type of country.
Most Ukrainians prefer to sit at a table with a group of friends while drinking, instead of perching at a bar where you can make new friends and start conversations with others. It’s a longstanding part of their culture, and it’s not changing any time soon. In other words, finding a proper Western-style bar in Lviv was pretty difficult.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you and found a few gems. I always start my night off by rotating between a few of these places. They’re all within 100 meters of each other.
The Drunken Cherry: This is the perfect place to start off your night. Situated right on Rynok Square, this place is little more than a tiny room where you buy Cherry flavored Brandy, stand around a communal set of tables, and chat with groups of people. It’s always full, and you can meet tourists from all over here also.
Choven: Choven is a Western-style beer pub that’s situated two streets away from Rynok Square. Here, you’ll find groups of people hanging out after work. It’s less popular with girls (for obvious reasons), but sells excellent beer and has a lively atmosphere. Both bar and table seating makes it a reasonable choice for socializing and seeing friends.
JagerWald: A Jagermeister themed bar that’s 30 meters away from Choven. This is a great place to bring dates as the interior is sleek and newly designed. There’s always a tiny crowd here, and in a town as small as Lviv, it is 100% worth stopping into to get obscenely drunk off of $1 shots of Jagermeister. They serve nice craft cocktails also, and I’ve seen plenty of guys successfully bring dates here.
Music Lab: This place is an old favorite of mine. I’ve brought countless dates here as it’s the right blend of casual and cool. This is a typical Ukrainian bar where everyone sits around at a table, so I obviously do not suggest it for socializing. There’s comfortable booth seating on both floors and you can even order a hookah. An excellent place for first dates, or just to have a drink with some friends.
Pravda Beer Theater: This is a combination bar and restaurant. While you won’t be doing much socializing here, the place is absolutely gigantic and like no place I’ve ever seen in Ukraine. Run by American owners, they brew some of the finest beer in the country here. I’d avoid bringing dates, as the live music can be seriously overwhelming from time to time. During the summer, they have a lovely outdoor patio as well.
Pro-tip: I’d be careful to avoid P’yalnia. It’s become a hangout for the town’s alcoholics, and even though it’s right next to Pravda and looks like a normal place to stop in for a drink, I do not recommend going. I always see people getting into fights with both security and patrons. Avoid the riff-raff in Ukraine whenever possible.
Pop Up Parties – An Unexpected Gem in Lviv Ukraine
While Lviv is known for food, fun, and architecture, there is a burgeoning dance music scene in the city too.
Make no mistake, Lviv is certainly no Berlin, but if you regularly check websites like Resident Advisor, you can find pop-up dance parties and raves that happen all over the town.
While these only happen a few times a month at best, there are some hardworking promoters who bring in international DJs and throw parties at some seriously cool spots all over town.
I highly suggest you check out the Lviv event listings when planning your trip. It’s a nice break from the standard club scene, and you can mingle with the town’s upper class, hipster demographic as well.
After The Club
Lviv Ukraine nightlife goes very LATE. There’s not much of an after-hours scene, because it’s not uncommon for nightclubs to stay open until 5:00-6:00 AM.
But, if you’re someone who loves to get their late-night grub on after the nightclub, Lviv will leave you disappointed.
In total, you have one actual restaurant that’s open after 1:00 AM.
Big Plate – Lviv’s only 24/7 restaurant. The food is a little bit expensive by Lviv standards, but still ridiculously cheap when compared to anywhere else in the world. If you’ve ever wanted to eat salo and drink vodka at 4:00 AM, this is the place to do so. Best of all, Big Plate is located just a few meters away from Rynok Square.
Strip Clubs
Ah yes, the strip club.
Generally speaking, I tell guys to avoid strip clubs in Ukraine. You’re already in the country with some of the hottest women on the planet! Don’t you want to try to talk to them?
Plus, in Lviv, the strip clubs are rather “tame” and there are no “extras” on the menu…if you know what I mean.
But, I’ll admit, I’ve been to a few strip clubs on some particularly drunken nights out in the town.
If you really have to visit a strip club, I suggest you check out this place…
Split – This venue is a classic “nightclub/restaurant/strip club in one” package that Ukrainians seem to love. It is rather disappointing in all three areas, but the strip club inside has shown me a pretty good time before. There are some seriously hot girls working there, and probably the cheapest lap dances you’ll ever get in your life here!
Even still, these places are really nothing special. As I said, I don’t suggest going. In my experience, all that’s going to happen is you’re going to leave horny, drunk and disappointed.
Massage Parlors
The other alternative, if you’re a bit of a “sleazy” type of guy are the “massage parlors” that exist around town.
I’ve never been to one of these, but I’ve only heard horror stories of what takes place in these places. Friends who are a bit…more questionable than I have told me stories of moldy buildings with tattooed, drugged-out women (who are still pretty hot compared to the rest of the world) “rubbing you down” for the low price of $40.
Yeah, not my style at all.
Between the city’s many nightclubs and the popularity of online dating apps like Ukraine Date, I never had to resort to doing anything like that.
And neither should you.
Conclusion – Lviv, Ukraine Nightlife Is Actually A Pretty Good Time!
Surprise, surprise. The tiny town in Western Ukraine has some pretty decent options when it comes to nightlife options.
In fact, Lviv Ukraine is the fastest growing city in the entire country. Tourism numbers steadily increase each and every year and are showing no sign of slowing down. Some say that Lviv still remains relatively untouched by serious tourism and that the entire town could change in the next ten years. My suggestion to you is that you get there as soon as you can.
Here’s the moral of the story: with tens of thousands of young, college-aged girls living in the town and more than enough venues to choose from, you can have a great time partying it up in Lviv. Just be sure to do your homework beforehand!
PS: If you’re not the kind of guy who likes meeting Ukrainian women at the club, check out this website instead.
