moving to ukraine

I only decided to reply because you seem to be a seriuos person in need of real information about Ukraine, hoping to build a life here.

In general, I don't mean to dissappoint you, but I am afraid I don't have much positive to say about your choice of location.

If you are thinking of moving to the capital Kiev, is very expensive and job opportunities are very scarce even for an expat with good background. About ten years age the situation was very different as the costs of living including rent were lower (both in comparison to western Europe and to what it is today) and the economy was growing. New companies with western capital were springing up (especially in Kiev) and some well known multinationals were openning their offices in the capital. The demand for native speakers from different countries was strong and as a consecuence many expats were finding employment (with good salaries and prospects for growth)

However, since that time the country has gone backwards because the promise of more development never really materialized, while expats kept coming to Kiev where the costs of living reached western European levels. So now Kiev is one of the most expensive places in EASTERN Europe, with very high Real Estate prices, very few companies hiring and very many expats living in the city looking for some meant to sustain themselves. I am saying all this to underline the fact that the European flovor which Kiev and some of the other Ukrainian cities have can not mask the unreformed nature of the Ukrainian economy (from Soviet times), leading to LOTS of CORRUPTION (needing to pay bribes wherever you go and whatever you decide to do) and VERY FEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

Even If you have a good paying job I just want you to know that it is only in Kiev that monthly incomes approach $500  with jobs in other regions paying much less (say $300-400/month).  Having said all that - enjoy your time the country, just be real about your prospects of building a life in Ukraine.

In short, there are far more colorful places to be. I would suggest South America;)

Weather in Ukraine sucks (extremely cold winters and ~6 month of no sunshine), political and economic situation is very unstable and job market is not competitive (salary wise), not to mention that  social security is pretty much non existent.

kiev-assist wrote:

In short, there are far more colorful places to be. I would suggest South America;)

Weather in Ukraine sucks (extremely cold winters and ~6 month of no sunshine), political and economic situation is very unstable and job market is not competitive (salary wise), not to mention that  social security is pretty much non existent.

I totally agree here...LatinAmerica is also one of my other "big ideas" now. I mean there are diffirent countries there, with diffirent levels of social welfare and standards of living...However, neither is our country "a european low-cost destination, good for open-minded travelers". The only good place to open that mind would be while paying EU level prices in a country making Latin American salaries. Yet in Latin America things cost twice as low and real estate can  be had for 1/3 of Kiev's price.

I would suggest looking at Ecuador - for a budget traveler or Uruguay/ Argentina - for someone in search of that European "feel". Ukraine??? I mean I love my country, still hold Ukrainian citizenship and speak both languages (Ukrainian and Russian), but why on earth would I pay twice as much just to be there.

Thats all pretty negative stuff but it is not gloomy all the time. IF you can get a job (find one first - makes it a lot easier) then it is still a great country.

Yes there are problems but are we saying Latin America is not corrupt? lol

I suggest you dip into the expat forum and ask more detailed questions to expats who live here; expatua.com

ace123 wrote:

Thats all pretty negative stuff but it is not gloomy all the time. IF you can get a job (find one first - makes it a lot easier) then it is still a great country.

Yes there are problems but are we saying Latin America is not corrupt? lol

I suggest you dip into the expat forum and ask more detailed questions to expats who live here; expatua.com

No participant on this forum was ever saying that Latin America is not corrupt. Of course it is, but at the same time the assertion that "if you can get a good job, it is a great country (Ukraine) is simply wrong. Obviously one would be OK with lots of money in any situation and any country. The  question to ask here is this - Is getting a good job in Kiev adjusted for the price level more likely than getting it in Latin America?

The  only negativity coming from me personally on this forum stems from the fact that it is SOOO difficult to make ends meet in "our great capital" even if you have great qualifications, speak perfect English and have great will to succeede.

Oleggy.. you may be prolific but other people can have a view.

Lots of expats have thrived here and whilst it may be "difficult" it is not all doom and gloom. It is about expectation... and besides Kiev is the capital and not representative of the rest of the country.

great informations

I have a friend from Lebanon who came to Ukraine almost 20 years ago. He is doing good business here, have a family and quite happy living in Ukraine. I don't know but all lebanese people I met and know love Ukraine!

After reading comments I can say only - "Scary, scary, scary" )))

Adham, you were asking for advice, so my advice for you is to visit Ukraine first of all and to feel it if you have already done it - ask more concrete question )

Have a good luck,
Maria

Maria_Kyiv_Guide wrote:

After reading comments I can say only - "Scary, scary, scary" )))

Adham, you were asking for advice, so my advice for you is to visit Ukraine first of all and to feel it if you have already done it - ask more concrete question )

Have a good luck,
Maria

ace123 wrote:

Oleggy.. you may be prolific but other people can have a view.

Lots of expats have thrived here and whilst it may be "difficult" it is not all doom and gloom. It is about expectation... and besides Kiev is the capital and not representative of the rest of the country.

I see expats here refer to other expats liking UKR etc, no offense to anybody but it's well known fact:
low-class expats would ever immigrate to UKR. I just think it's fare to consider opinions of people who lived in UKR their whole lives as much as expats.