Living in Ukraine cheaply possible?

[eloquent]

Hi, I've read some of the other threads and was particularly disturbed by what Corrie said about Westerners being charged ten times as much as Ukrainians for the same apartment.

This would make it impossible for me to live there. I like to live cheaply and simply. By doing so I have enough savings that I don't have to work. I'd like to find a comfortable studio apartment with kitchen and bath for $100 or so. Is this possible?

Can someone tell me how pervasive this practice of overcharging Westerners is? I would think that a landlord who has a vacancy would rather I took the apartment at the correct price than refused it at an inflated price.

Other things I'm curious about: how much does heat and hot water cost in the Ukraine? Telephone service? Internet?

Can you get organic vegetables and fruit there and are they expensive? Or does everybody grow organically there simply because they can't afford chemicals?

Can an American stay there for years or are the visa requirements too strict?

Would appreciate any info. Thanks.

Eloquent

[ric9001]

you could get a flat for hundred us but not close to the kiev center
it is not true that you will be charged ten times and it is easy any time to get help
dont worryrr

[eloquent]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ric9001
you could get a flat for hundred us but not close to the kiev center
it is not true that you will be charged ten times and it is easy any time to get help
dont worryrr [/QUOT

Thanks Ric. I was not thinking about Kiev, though. Just Ukraine in general, maybe Odessa, maybe Crimea. Ideally, I'd like to find a rural area where I can grow vegetables. I assume that would be cheaper than Kiev?

I've heard Kiev has too much radiation residue from Chernobyl.

[aberry]

Currently looking at flats to rent (possibly buy) in Kharkov. From the local paper, it looks like a furnished 2-bed flat is achievable for $85-90 outside of the city centre. Perhaps this same flat would be more like $140-150 near the centre.

Not sure where you heard the radiation thing from but several travel related articles that I've read suggest that the levels are now much less than those we receive from our mobiles. Sure, some areas might be stronger than others but nowhere have I seen anything that points to a "worry".

Regards, Alex