Kharkiv living expenses per month !!!

[Faisal Tasleem]

Hellow friend,

Firstly I would like to point out that "I am lucky" to find this website. It will give me an idea of Ukraine before I go to live (Study) there.

I saw a few threads about "Expenses" in Ukraine... It was glad to see and know that compared to European countries specialy "EURO ZONE" countries Ukraine is cheap to spend life. Infact I am right now a student and in a few months planning to move Ukraine to become a "Commercial Pilot". I have a few family friends in Kharkiv so I would be going in living in that city. In the begining I would be staying at their house for a "Month" after that will move to a seperate apartment.

I have made some calculation and what I found is that around 500 $ for a month would be 'enough' for me. As I am alone. On a website ( Kiev Apartments for Rent - UA Rent Kiev Apartment Rentals, Flats Accommodations in Kiev Center | Kiev Lodging, Holiday and Vacation Rentals ) I found the 'studio' flats to be around 60 Euro so around a 100 $. And it's in Kiev probably is going to be more cheaper in "Kharkiv" and even if it's the same price so 100 $ would be for house and around 50 for electric and water (gas) supply?

And the rest would be for food, entertainment (internet and Mobile) and transport (Bus or train). Are my calculations right or I am missing something?

And also please suggest me that what if I don't use the public transport and buy a 'motorcycle instead? Is it going to cost me too much? I read somewhere that petrol per litre is around 10 UAH. And normally a standard 100 cc motorcycle gives around 40 kilometer in 1 litre so it means that the petrol of 200 UAH would give me a drive of 800 kilometer which makes only 25 USD and in 25 USD I will get 800 Kilometer isn't economical?

Well that's all for now ; kindly give me your suggestions about it and will surely ask more questions later on. I appreciate your help

Faisal.

[AkMike]

I think that you're underestimating your costs quite a bit. A local would be able to live in some of the smaller cities for 500USD a month but not Kyiv. You're NOT going to get the normal price, you're not a local. You're going to get nailed the tourist price in everything. You don't speak russian so you can't haggle for anything.
I spend most of my time in Cherkassy,(south of Kyiv) I could easily get by there for 1000USD but Kyiv would be 2-3X more.
I'm not familiar with Harkov/Harkiv but it's a larger city so it'll cost more than Chekassy. Public transportation is very cheap and reliable as well as frequent. I'm a professional driver here and I'll NEVER drive in Ukraine.. They scare me. I'd never consider a motorcycle there.

[Albatross]

Faisal, I checked the website in your link. The site presentation is not very clear, but I'm sure $60-100 are daily rates, not monthly ones!

If you want to rent an apartment by yourself in Kharkiv, i'd figure you're looking at a $200-300 a month easily, depending on location. If you share your flat or rent a room somewhere you could reduce your cost. Good that you have some friends there already. You will need their support. USD 500 a month is not a lot, but with local help you could survive, provided you find cheap accomodation.

Re transport: AkMike is right, in a big city public transport is cheap and works well enough. Good luck!

[Faisal Tasleem]

hmm friends,

Yes after some search i found that those rates are daily.. Hmm but the 'friends' i have there pay 300 USD for a flat of 2 room so in this regard if we see one room flat is to be in between 100 to 150 right??

And well this thing isn ew for me that 'foreigners' pay more than local? I mean how much more? Suppose I buy vegetable one KG which is 3 UAH for a 'local' what would it cost for a 'foreigner' ??? And how do they declare that some one is foreigners ? By the colour of skin or language? SUppose of someone is not 'white' but has a Ukrainian citizenship. Is he considered as local or still a foreigner? Since I have seen the "immigration law'' it says that someone with Ukrainian nationality is 'considered' Ukrainian doesn't matter if he has any other nationality as 'dual nationality' aspect is not there in Ukraine?

Thanks for the help. Your information is being and surely will be very useful to me.

Faisal.

[AkMike]

Like most places in the world they really don't care about your skin color. But they can easily know that you're not local by your lack of language skills. Mispronounce words and the carrot vendor could raise the price to 5 UAH and not 2.3 for the locals.

We've rented out our flat before, and it went cheap to some young nurses that were family friends. 500 UAH but that's been several years ago and it's been upgraded alot since. I am only guessing but in Harkov a cheap flat would be about 150USD, based on my limited experience and it's a big city.

[Faisal Tasleem]

Thanks MIke..

And what about making shopping in "Big stores'' where the prices are fix you see like "Carrefour" in France... IN those markets I am not suppose to have the price issue right?? :O ?

[AkMike]

Yes, normal 'supermarkets' have a fixed price you'd pay but the bazzars area cheaper for a young student, IF they don't rip you off.

I think you'll find it's exactly the same as at home or in France, or where ever but different! There's always little twists and turns to make life different. Its interesting and fun!