Pros And Cons Of Living In Ukraine: What’s It Like In Ukraine?

If you come from North America or Western Europe, then you may not know a lot about Ukraine. In some instances, you may only know that Ukrainian women are beautiful. But, mostly, you don’t even know much about their culture as well as how it really is living in Ukraine. Unlike what most people think, Ukrainian women don’t actually look for foreign partners to find a better life. They look for foreign partners as many of them think they’ve exhausted their time with their local men. Sometimes, it works out for those women, but most of the time it doesn’t. And, although Ukrainian women can stand up for themselves and not let their local men treat them badly, finding a love that’ll last is difficult for them as well. So, when looking for a Ukrainian lady to marry, one also has to consider the possibility of living in Ukraine.

However, uprooting yourself from what you know could be very difficult. So, we’ve done a little research to help you know about the pros and cons of living in Ukraine. We’ll also show you what’s in like Ukraine and how people live their lives on most days.

Hopefully, the information will get you acquainted with some of the cultural aspects of Ukraine that differ greatly from both North America, especially the US as well as Europe, mainly the UK.

What is it like in Ukraine?

To give you a quick background of Ukraine, you’ve got to know one thing first: every city, town, and region is different from one another. Each of these has its own specific set of unique attributes. This also includes the landscape of the place as well. So, if you’re going to go visit Ukraine or live there, it’s best that you do some research on the place. This is especially important if you’re planning to move, choosing a venue where to start your Ukrainian trip may be a good thing.

Most of the women on dating websites come from either Kiev, also spelled as “Kyiv”, or Odessa also spelled as “Odesa”. According to popular belief as well as stigma, many foreigners think that Ukraine is a dark, communist place that’s dangerous. However, in reality, Ukrainians really take care of their environment. Many foreigners who have visited Kyiv can attest to the fact that there is barely any trash on the ground. Furthermore, it’s safer than what people are led to believe. Even if there was a recent people’s revolution that happened (back in 2014), it doesn’t mean that it happens every day.

On the other hand, Odesa is a very different city from Kyiv. A lot of foreigners have said that living in Odesa is fun as it’s located near the shore of the Black Sea. According to many, the best time to visit Odessa is during its summer days as it’s full of life.

Overall, there are a lot of good things as well as bad things about these cities and Ukraine in general. Therefore, we’re here to show you the pros and cons of living in Ukraine. The list we’ll provide you may not be the most complete as sometimes the experience is totally each from their own. So, we’ll be presenting some of the general pros and cons of living in Ukraine.

Pros and cons of living in Ukraine: the foreigner’s quick guide

Pros

Learning a new language

If you’re planning to stay on the outskirts of cities, you’re going to have to learn their language and/or dialect. At the end of it all, you’re learning a new language that you can use in your future travels to Ukraine.

Bustling nightlife

You don’t have to be a fan of the nightlife to appreciate its glowing beauty. While Kyiv and Odessa are somewhat busy cities with life bustling at every corner. It gets Moreso when the evening encompasses the place. It becomes lively at night with electro music blasting from places.

Compassionate people

This is one thing most Westerners love about their visit to Ukraine. They boast of an experience wherein they are welcomed as they are. There is no racism or judgment even if you’re a foreigner. This holds especially true in Ukraine’s major cities. However, it may not be the same as the small towns and regions as they don’t speak much English. Nonetheless, the place is still filled with people who are compassionate and friendly.

Amazing food

This may be a bit subjective in the sense that if you taste food from another country you’re going to have to get used to the taste of their cuisine. However, Ukraine offers some of the freshest foods. Their fruits and vegetables are always considered fresh. Although you may have a little difficulty being served meat in some places, you’re going to enjoy their selection of fresh foods. Plus, their local markets and local produce are things you can’t miss on your journey to Ukraine. In Moreso, the food and beverages are cheap as well.

Public transportation

Their public transportation can get you almost anywhere in Ukraine. You can ride the bus or the train or even rent a car. The best thing about their transportation is it’s considered to be “dirt cheap.” Foreigners who’ve ridden the bus say that the average cost is about 33 cents of American dollars.

Beautiful women

According to Westerners who’ve visited Ukraine, one of the first things they mention is that there are beautiful women everywhere you look. This could be a good thing for many men who are looking to meet new people and dare to go up to a woman.

Cons

Expensive

Ukraine can only get expensive if you’re buying items of clothing, technology, vehicles, and any other type of luxury items. In the case of technology, you’re going to pay the international prices for this plus the tax they’ve imposed on it. So, if an iPhone costs $649 in the USA, expect to pay more or less the same amount in Ukraine. The quality of clothes in Ukraine can also be low. So, if you’re buying a long-lasting piece of clothing, it’ll be very expensive. According to many, it only takes a few washes to turn the clothes you’ve bought in Ukraine into rags. Again, because of the low quality of the materials used.

Local goons

As with any place, there are some people you should really avoid running into in Ukraine. Some people can’t be bothered to welcome others even if they’re locals or foreigners. These are usually men who are alcohol driven and usually carry a bottle or two of vodka. Yes. There are still some people who drink on the streets. But, beyond this, more or less it’s safe in Ukraine.

Language barrier

As mentioned earlier, the language barrier can really put its walls up when you only speak English. If you aren’t linguistically-inclined or at least ready to learn a new language, then you’ll be having difficulty going around Ukraine. Even just knowing a little bit of the Slavic language can go a really long way in Ukraine.

Public transportation

Although public transportation is amazing and dirt cheap, you’ll often find yourself in a crowd. Many Ukrainians really use public transportation to get around, so you’re going to be against Ukrainians who are used to this kind of lifestyle. If you’ve ever been to China or seen videos of Chinese and Japanese trains, you’ll get a good figure of how crowded the trains could be. However, this is mostly during rush hours. If you opt to ride the buses instead, then you’re going to have to take care of your safety. Don’t be afraid that you’re going to get mugged or anything. The only thing to be afraid of is the driver. The drivers are usually reckless as they smoke, talk on the phone as well as collect money all at the same time. Plus, they do this while driving in both traffic and at high speeds.

Corruption, poor customer service, and bureaucracy:

No one can really take out corruption in any country. In all honesty, some countries just hide it better than others. So, if you’re going to be in Ukraine, make sure that you don’t get caught by the police. Some policemen may hassle foreigners for a “small token.” This is much like a gift. Plus, if you’re getting anything done in Ukraine, like paperwork, etc., you’re looking at some time to wait for that kind of thing. So, what usually happens to make things “move faster” is you pay the occasional “extra fee.” Beyond this, you may actually experience bad customer service. The only reason for this being is good customer service is just beginning to make itself known around Ukraine. Sometimes, waiters and cashiers may view their customers as “problems” or “annoying.”

The pros and cons of living in Ukraine may look bad or good. But, with any place, you’re looking for the good things rather than the bad. Just take our word for saying that Ukraine is a great place to visit and come visit!

When you’re there, you’ll get to experience the hustle and bustle of a city in the morning rush. By the afternoon, you’ll see people leaving their work and going off to do their evening routine.

If you want to find out more about international dating and how you could benefit from it, you can visit our site, Ukraine Brides Agency. You can also get inspired by all the success stories on this site! There is a lot of dating advice you can benefit from. Register now so you can find your soulmate through international dating!

Olga P

Olga loves travelling and learning about different cultures. She enjoys taking photos, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors. A skilled writer, Olga is a language enthusiast as well. She enjoys meeting new people from around the world and trying out new recipes in her kitchen.