Friday, April 09, 2010

Cost of food in Ukraine

An interesting look at groceries here:

Huge bottle of water (6 liters): $2.38

Large bottles of beer (16 ounces): 52 cents each

Pepsi Light (12 ounces): 61 cents


Small bottle of Evian water (16 ounces): $2.50

Small container of instant coffee (Nestle): $7.50

Imported products are expensive in general. But groceries are really inexpensive.

Eating out is much less expensive than eating in the larger, metropolitan areas in the States, like NYC or Chicago. Dinner here in Kiev, for example: A whole pizza; salad of tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella cheese, 1 large beer, 1 glass of pinot grigio and 2 cappucinos...$35. Drinks are very inexpensive, compared to in the States. Maybe that is why many, many people drink beer with meals (?). You can also find meals for much less than this example.

The news is good on this front. There are plenty of great options for food in Kiev...and the price is right :)! Be patient and adventurous with your food choices. You will find foods you enjoy here!

14 comments:

  1. Looks like we'll be in the same boat since our SDA is on a Thursday morning. We'll be in Kiev all week and weekend before seeing/meeting Sofia....any way to get the ok sooner than the following day at 5pm? Our appt is at 9 am on Thursday. Uuuggghhh! I'm sure you just want to get over and see your Alina!

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  2. Well I am certainly learning a lot from your posts, and can't wait to step foot there on Tuesday. Thanks for posting all of this info.

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  3. Then I say... "Let them drink beer!" Funny how that is... I'm dying to hear about your seeing Alina!

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  4. Thanks for visiting my blog! :) One tiny little step at a time we are getting there. :)

    I can NOT wait till you are holding your little one at long last! Sometimes, it is the happy endings of others that get me through.... :)

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  5. Ditto on the beer! :) Enjoy your weekend and we also are counting the days and hours until you meet your littlest angel! So happy you got her baby picture! Hugs!

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  6. We told our driver Nikolai that he shouldn't smoke. That it's bad for him. He said "if I don't drink and I don't smoke, then I die healthy"

    Go figure. :)

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  7. So, when do you travel to Zap? I'm just dying to hear all about Alina! :)

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  8. I love that beer is the cheapest thing :)

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  9. Jodi, Nikolai won't eat McDonalds because he is convinced their cooking oil is carcenogenic ;). He told us that while puffing a cig. Love it.

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  10. See Lisa, it all depends where you are from. To us, Ukraine was very expensive, much more expensive than home.

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  11. Hilarious about Nikolai!!! I hope we get to meet him!!! When do you go to see Alina? Night train on Sunday??

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  12. Ellen, that is crazy! You must be lucky and live in a VERY affordable part of the country. We are in the midwest, and things are not nearly as pricey as they are in the larger areas...but Chris travels quite a bit, so he has seen the least expensive and most expensive parts of the States and has a lot to compare. We feel like almost everything is less (other than hotels and imported items). You can find low cost items in almost every situation here. Food, cabs, clothes, accommodations...are much less expensive than most places in the States. But you are right, it depends on your vantage point :).

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  13. Jen, we have not heard how we are getting to Zaporozhye. We may be going by car...which will be...interesting I am sure :)!

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  14. I am so glad to have come across your blog. We love Ukraine and an't wait to go back this summer! Try the ice-cream in a bag in the grocery store--- it is delicious!

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