Whenever I first decided to begin living in Ukraine as a foreigner, it seemed as if everyone I knew had just one question, “Why Ukraine?” Aside from the fact that living in Ukraine allows you to start meeting beautiful Ukrainian women, I understand why people were so surprised.
Make no mistake, this is a fair question. When the news media in most Western nations seems to only have bad things to say about a particular country…it can be easy to have a negative impression about it.
To date, I have now been living in Ukraine for over 3 years. In that time I’ve had plenty of ups and downs, but I would not trade my experiences for the world.
I can honestly say that living in Ukraine as a foreigner has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
So…what is the shocking truth about living in Ukraine as a Foreigner?
Read on to find out.
Table of Contents
Ukraine is Incredibly Cheap For Foreigners
The first thing that any foreigner will notice while living in Ukraine is just how cheap it is.
Let’s have a look at the global cost of living index to see just how Ukraine ranks.
As we’ve mentioned before, Lviv is among one of the cheapest cities in the world, just two steps above Bangalore, India. Paying such a small amount to live in gorgeous, European capital is simply absurd.
Even Kiev, the most “expensive” city in the country, is ranked at 329 out of 375 cities on earth.
All in all, your total spend for an upper-middle class lifestyle is going to be no more than $1,500.
If that’s not a good value, I don’t know what is.
High Quality of Life While Living in Ukraine as a Foreigner
Because Ukraine is so cheap, even a small, internet-based salary can afford a person access to top-tier luxuries in the country.
For example, a membership at a “health-spa” styled gym will run about $50 a month. Uber in Ukraine is among the cheapest in the world, with rides ranging from $2-$5 generally. Meals out can range between $4-$20 depending on how nice of a restaurant you like to dine at. Above all else, newly renovated apartments can rent for less than $500 a month.
We covered the exact budget that you can expect to spend in Ukraine in this post.
Remember this: low prices in Ukraine give you access to the highest quality amenities that the country has to offer. While the majority of the population may be living in relative poverty, access to a reasonable salary paid in US dollars immediately puts you in the top 10% of income earners in the country.
In general, you can expect your salary to go four times farther in Ukraine.
For example, a $25,000 a year salary in Ukraine will give you access to a $100,000 a month lifestyle in the United States, U.K., etc.
Let’s say that someone spends $1,500 a month for a “baller” lifestyle in Ukraine on a $25,000 yearly salary. That leaves an extra $7,000 to do whatever you want with.
I know numerous people that have begun investing this extra money into the stock market, paid off their student debts, or started businesses with the money they save living in Ukraine.
That, my friends, is how your financial life can truly start to change as a result of living in Ukraine. You may leave a shabby expat, but if you play your cards right, you should reemerge as a person of means.
It Is Corrupt…But Who Really Cares?
There is no denying the political situation in Ukraine is extremely corrupt.
Let me ask you a question: when was the last time that politics directly impacted your life?
Think about it…
One of the best things that living in Ukraine as a foreigner has revealed to me is that the state of a country’s politics generally have 0 bearing on my everyday life.
I remember when, not too long ago, Americans thought that the election of Donald Trump was going to fundamentally change the country.
…and what has happened? Almost nothing.
This begs the question of just how much Ukraine’s corrupt political system will impact your life as a foreigner. I can safely say that, for the average expat, there is literally nothing to worry about here. Will Zelenskiy’s failure as a negotiator make the price of your $1 latte going up? Did Yanukovych’s embezzling of funds from taxpayers increase the price of your rent?
Nope, nah, and no. This is all fear-based propaganda.
Granted, there are a few exceptions. I do not use Ukrainian banks as they are notoriously untrustworthy. I do not own any property in the country (yet), and generally avoid making business deals involving large transfers of funds inside of Ukraine.
Instead, I use a fantastic online bank that charges me 0% commissions for foreign transactions. I pay $500 a month for a luxurious, city center apartment and I work on the internet.
Problem solved.
Slavic Culture Conquers All
One of my personal favorite parts about living in Ukraine is that you are generally cut away from the superficial parts of American culture.
In my three years of living in the country, I did not hear one song by degenerate rappers like Cardi B. I was not bombarded with advertisements for overpriced American consumer products. I don’t hear the same 10 American pop songs on the radio everyday.
To me, this is refreshing. While Ukraine does have their own pop music and slightly annoying advertising (that I don’t understand), I find all of these to be far less offensive than in the United States.
In fact, it was only on a recent trip to Serbia that I realized just how cut off Ukraine is from all of these things. Many countries in Eastern Europe have something of an affinity for American culture. Ukraine, however, is not one of them.
Personally, I like having the option of consuming type of media I want. If I want to watch South Park, I’ll throw on Netflix and binge for an afternoon. Do I want to hear everyone talking about Game of Thrones non-stop?
Hell no.
Ukraine is very much outside of the Western sphere of influence in regards to culture. For a foreigner living in Ukraine, this is going to be one of the most obvious differences between life at home and your life in Eastern Europe.
The Girls Are Unbelievably Attractive
Do I even need to say it?
Girls in Ukraine are simply gorgeous. While of course, not every single girl you see walking down the street is going to be a knockout, there is generally just a much higher number of attractive women in Ukraine than most other countries. Let’s talk about why this is…
First off, you have to take into account genetics. Slavic women generally fit Western standards of beauty, with Ukrainian women being more genetically prone to having fair skin, soft facial features, elongated legs, and an average stature. Most guys from the West tend to see these as positive traits.
This already puts Ukrainian women miles above other ethnic groups by virtue of birth alone.
Second, Ukraine is a rather “traditional” country in which women are still encouraged by their parents, peer groups and society and large to wear dresses, high heels, and maximize their femininity. There are exceptions to every rule, and yet this is generally the way things are in Ukraine.
You could best compare it to the United States in the 1950s in regards to how it treats gender differences. There was never a “sexual revolution” in which women were encouraged to begin acting like men, cut their hair short and put on extra weight because “I’m perfect just the way I am.”
It just doesn’t work that way in Ukraine.
Just as men understand that their value is tied to the work they can do and what they can provide in terms of fun, finance, and stability, women realize that their beauty is something to be nourished and not scorned.
The Truth About Living in Ukraine as a Foreigner
The truth about living in Ukraine is that it is awesome.
Living in Ukraine as a foreigner allows me to get more out of life, specifically in regards to money, women and overall quality.
I live a luxurious lifestyle for a fraction of the cost of what it would be in the United States. Beyond this, I can save and invest the remainder of my salary, something that has quickly allowed my net worth to rise far above that of my peer group. To top it all off, I have access to the world’s most beautiful women. What’s not to love?
Granted, living in Ukraine is certainly not for everyone, but if you’re the type of person who is reading this website, then I am going to guess that you’re not everyone…and that’s a good thing.
Give It A Shot
Obviously, not everyone who reads this is going to buy a plane ticket and head off to Eastern Europe right away, and for good reason.
Personally, I believe you should “dip your toes in the water” before diving in, and there are a few particular dating apps that are great for doing just this. Using a dating app will allow you to get a glimpse of all the gorgeous Ukrainian girls you want, before ever setting foot in the country.
In the dating world, we call this “pipelining,” as you’re setting up potential dates before you even arrive. If you want to get a glimpse of what living in Ukraine as a foreigner is like, I suggest you sign up for a free account at Ukraine Date today.
You won’t regret it.
Hi there
My girlfriend lives in Kharkov. I am Belgian. I will start a new job as an hotel auditor in Europe soon. And my question was can I live in Kharkov close or with my girlfriend and still do my work in the rest of Europe? How should I go about?
Hey Geert.
If you mean can you live in Kharkov? Absolutely. It’s a great, very underrated city that is just a bit smaller than Kyiv and one of the cheapest cities in the country. It’s gotten rave reviews, especially if you have a local girlfriend to show you around and help you get acquainted.
There’s also a big international airport in the city. Now, I don’t think flights will be as cheap as Kyiv or Lviv, as I don’t believe there are low-cost airlines like RyanAir that have moved in yet. Even still, I’d imagine your job is paying for your transport.
In other words, Kharkiv can definitely be an excellent city to live and a decent base for doing work in the rest of Europe, provided you’re getting a transportation budget.
In a city like Lviv, however, there is an abundance of ridiculously cheap flights ($40 to London, last I checked) and I’ve met a few people using it as an international base for that reason. If I were paying for my own transport, I’d factor this into my decision. Then again, it’s also on the exact opposite side of the country, and a different vibe than Kharkov.
Do feel free to let us know what you end up doing! Good luck man.
Ukraine women are lovely – for making love
Hi there.
How much costs in average a non-fancy studio/1-bedroom-apartment with expenses included or plus expenses (1 person) in city center?
Kind regards.
Hi Luigi.
A studio will be dirt cheap in most places in Ukraine.
Assuming you’re talking about a monthly lease where you speak with the landlord directly, you should aim to pay less than $350 in Lviv or Kharkiv, perhaps even significantly less.
Kiev will be a little bit more expensive, but I’d shoot for $500-$600 in the true center of Kyiv if you’re fine with living in not as nice of a place. If you go further away from the center, we’re talking around $450 or less.
Expenses should run between $30 – $70 depending on the season.
Forgot to say I was asking about Kiev’s. 500/600$, wow… That’s expensive for a studio… Makes me think twice if I should relocate there.
Well, you’re talking about the direct city center. Kyiv has decent public transportation, and living just outside of the center isn’t so bad.
But yeah, Kyiv housing prices have definitely gone up over the years.
Now, if you get a yearly lease, you could definitely drop that price down about $100 or so.
Ukraine girls are awesome
I knew the inflation rate on housing rents (and pretty much everything else) has been rising a lot, didn’t know the “standard” prices. I very much appreciate your explanations, they’ll certainly be useful when it comes up to decide which country I’ll be relocating to. One last question, is it my impression or Kharkiv-based girls are way prettier than Kiev-based ones? Kind regards from Portugal (if you need any info about my country, please let me know).
No problem. Keep in mind that apartments in Kyiv are the most expensive in the country, everything else is still roughly third-world level cost minus going to fancy clubs. It is still a ridiculously cheap country to live in.
Yes, it’s been said that the further East you go, the easier and hotter they become. Then again, it’s Ukraine, girls are gorgeous in every city.
Honestly, for African who wants to live and work in Ukraine; like myself. I have challenges of getting an Invitation Letter from Ukraine since I don’t know anybody or organisation to facilitate that. What is your workable advice.
I am very educated in Accounting, Business Management, Hotels Operations and Management and Hospitality Management.
Will you be of interest and Assistant to me. Thank you.
Hey man.
A quick Google search will reveal that there are more than plenty law firms in that country that will issue you one, if you pay them a small fee.
This shouldn’t break the bank, but you may need a few hundred dollars.
It’s worth it. I don’t know why you would want to go to Ukraine to get a job (the salary is horribly low), that’s why you work online, however, it is a great place to live and meet women.
Good luck bro!
-EU
Just moved to Kiev from USA with my wife who is Ukrainian, I love it got some language issues but figuring it out can you tell me what part would you recommend living in Ukraine.
Hi Mit.
There are so many different choices. Lviv is great for a small town, relaxed type of vibe. Kiev is obviously the best if you wish to be in the center of everything and want business contacts. Kharkov is right in the middle with a bustling IT sector and a significantly reduced cost of living. Villages and other small towns are best for those on a limited budget or are looking to retire early to a quiet life.
Good luck.
-EU
Hi!
Really nice blog. Congrats! I would like to ask you, if its ok, to explain what kind of online work you do. Thanks!
All sorts of work. I started off as a freelancer, and now have a team of people that work with clients from all over the world on a variety of projects.
I covered how to make money in Ukraine in this post.
https://expatukraine.com/jobs-in-ukraine-how-to-make-money-abroad/
Great points to share about Kyiv. I’ve worked with many Ukrainians in the U.S. and became friends with 99% of them. Friendliest people once they learn you’re interested in Ukraine or the language (I’m including Russian which they all understand if not speak exclusively). I visited Kyiv to hang out with the friends I made and fell in love with it. I’m intending to move there after I finish a computer science degree in the states this year. I hope to work online and live in the the center of Kyiv also. Please tell me a recommendation from a resident American’s perspective of a site/sites or a realtor (do you even recommend a realtor, can I trust most landlords on sites?). My friends can suggest sites but I worry they wouldn’t necessarily know who would potentially scam a foreigner. I live in St. Louis for example and would trust most landlords to be responsive if urgent issues arise such as water or internet service interruptions. However, I would steer Ukrainians away from some of these same landlords because I sniff out bull*hit and lazy/self-centered a**holes in my native city. I worry that apartments which my Ukrainian friends could rent in Kyiv might be owned or operated by such a potential scammer who I can’t appropriately size up due to my foreignness in the interaction. Do I need a service that helps point expats toward reliable landlords or should I trust my instincts when meeting the landlord about whether they seem helpful and trustworthy? Sorry for the scenic route to get to my question but I’ve also been to Moscow and wouldn’t trust an average landlord there without going through an expat recommendation. Moscow seems like scammer central to me once they hear your accent. Kyiv seemed so ridiculously friendly in general to me compared to Moscow. As long as you show interest or warmth that is. Almost all Ukrainians are exceedingly polite and respectful in daily life but if you behave like you’re arrogant/rude/angry/depressed/annoyed/flustered/incompetent they’ll be very stoic and subdued in response. Though still respectfully, they wear the subdued and apathetic face most often until they see authentic warmth and interest then their inner switch flips 180 degrees to become the most welcoming in the world. I can’t WAIT to live in Kyiv!!!! Even if another battle happens in Maidan Nezalezhnosti I’ll accept it because I love being there. I’ll just import some American body armor and helmet if I need to walk through sporadic bullets downtown.
Hey man,
The best thing you can do is try to bounce a landlord off of AirBnb, like I mentioned in the article.
I suggest doing this, then having a local friend look on OLX for you, or better yet, ask if they know anybody personally. This way, the landlord thinks they’re renting to a local when discussing prices.
If you don’t “have” anybody in Ukraine, then I suggest making a concerted effort towards meeting people there either in person, or via the apps discussed above.
That’s really the best way to do it.
Anyone looking for a studio in kiev long term or short I have one available, if interested message me at**********@gm***.com for details.
Thanks for posting here. You are also free to post on our post on renting an apartment in Ukraine.
https://expatukraine.com/rent-apartment-ukraine/
‘aim realty kiev’ looks decently priced for long term rental, city center 700 per month for 1 br. Is that about the lowest or did you imply closer to 500/month is feasible? Thanks for your time, Expat Ukraine!
That’s a tourist trap site in my opinion, but if you find a good deal, go for it.
Yes, sadly $700 per month for a decent place in the center is pretty reasonable. Once you exit the center, then you can find cheaper accommodation, although at the cost of logistics, being close to nightlife, and having a “wow” factor when you bring girls over.
The high rent prices are what has kept many people out of Kiev, and in Lviv and Kharkov instead.
Your cost of living will remain low because everything else is pretty darn cheap though.
Thanks for the tip about OLX and opinion of ‘aim realty kiev’.. I do have a friend in Kyiv who could act as my phone negotiator haha, good idea. I agree AirBnb looks pretty darn good now. From my experiences in the states, specifically SF and NYC, AirBnb must have so much demand that the prices make me lean toward $100 hotels instead (or close to 100). But after looking at AirBnb Kiev I will almost definitely use it! I will be in the center or 20 min walk max from Maidan and $700-800 seems very reasonable to me for a one bedroom (or two bedroom when they refer to the living room with a bed in it as a br). I don’t want to even get on the metro to get to Maidan area. Thanks, Expat Ukraine.
And Mit, I may email you next year, thanks. I’m thinking about beginning my time at Ploscha Tolstono hotel before booking either a 3month or 6month rental in either a true 1bedroom or a “1bedroom” meaning living room w bed that’s separate from kitchen, bath and hall. I have a quick question, Mit. Does your studio have a “1 bedroom” separated from kitchen, hallway and bath or is it like American studios that have kitchenette/bedroom in the same conjoined room?
No problem! Good luck out there.
I used AirBnb last year in Kiev. Had an excellent experience, price was very reasonable and the accommodations perfect. I would recommend before a hotel, unless you are the less adventurous type. I’m sure I spent more money than I had to at times on transportation initially, but public transportation was excellent.
Thanks Tori! So glad you benefitted from reading this.
Question regarding retirement to Ukraine. I have stable income from pension, etc., do you know and will share the policies on taxation of foreign income regarding pensions by Ukraine?
Second, do you have any information (or where to look) regarding importing of pets, specifically my pets, both German Shepherds.
Thank you! I find your posts to be most informative and objective!
In reality, the Ukrainian government is never going to find out about your foreign pension money, especially if you’re keeping it in a foreign account like a Charles Schwab Investor Checking account, which allows you to withdraw with no fees from ATMs all over the world.
Hardly anybody pays taxes there. You’re fine. Definitely make sure you’re good with Uncle Sam, however.
I have a good idea how to live for foreigners in Ukraine. Interested please write to si*******@gm***.com