Travel to Ukraine, value of dollar?

Question

What is the value of the Ukrainan Hyrvna (or however you spell it) in the ukraine, i know that $500 dollars australian buys about 2000 UH, but is the inflation proportional, does say, a can of coke cost 8 hyrvna or something. I am going to be in the ukraine for a week and just want to know how much money to take, this is only really a relevent question for those who have been to the ukraine (in the last few years). Cheers.

Answer 1

Many of our common and inexpensive products carry western namebrands. On average, the most "Western" products run about the same cost as they do in Western Europe or the USA, if you are in Kyiv (Coke, Cherios cereal, Schick razors, etc). Any items imported from the USA. And things run about 20% higher in Kyiv than other places in Ukraine.

That said, we have many Western European products, especially from Germany. These run a little less than the American products.

if you are willing to use local or Russian products (anything produced in the CIS), then the cost is significantly cheaper.

When my American husband is here, we can live on about $650 USD per month (3 people), including food, housing, and utilities, etc. The same standard of living in the US costs us about $2600. Housing is about 1/2 our budget in Ukraine, and about 1/3 in the US. So, Ukraine is significantly cheaper.

As a tourist, you can live here for 2000 UAH if you are not extravagant. Rent an apartment, not a hotel. That saves significantly.

BTW.. a coke costs about $1.25 USD, or 6 UAH.

Answer 2

Basically the only currency that you can easlily use in Ukraine is Hryvnia. Taxi drivers taking people into town from the airport at Boryispol will accept dollars or euros, but everywhere else wants hryvna. The best advice is to take some hryvna which you can get at most banks, and take either dollars or euros. There are exchange booths in Kiev that will change pounds, but you have a better selection and a chance of better rates if you take dollars or euros. As for there being strict controls err no the only controls are that you can not take more than $3000 back out of Ukraine without paying tax

Answer 3

In general, things are cheaper in Ukraine than in other western countries. Many imported brand-name items, such as electronics, clothing, and autos, will be more expensive due to Ukraine’s still relatively large import duties. But for items of the day-to-day need, such as food, drinks, and locally produced goods, you will find them to be cheaper. Large cities are visibly more expensive than smaller cities. But if you shop in smaller towns and are brining dollars, you will do quite well. (Villages often tend to be a little more expensive than smaller towns due to the costs added from logistics and middlemen; however, the people tend to be a lot more hospitable there and you’ll probably get lots of free food anyway.)

I would keep cash to a minimum – $500 at most. You are much better off carrying a debit card as there are plenty of ATM machines virtually in any medium sized city. I’ve been to Ukraine seven times in the past eight years and every time I’ve been bringing less and less cash, because it’s so much easier, and there has been less need. Good luck with the trip, and have fun in Ukraine.

Answer 4

I was in Ukraine in April, but only for a couple of days. I found Western food (including Coke) slightly more expensive than in Western counties, but local food cheaper. Western non-food items are significanly more expensive, but local souvenirs are nice and relatively inexpensive if you don't buy them at hotels/airport shops.

Big supermarkets and boutique stores accept credit cards, and pick pockets are quite common, so be careful with carrying too much cash