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One of the things that always  fascinates me is the surreal pricing structure in Ukraine. I have been here (in Kherson) for two weeks now, and, as a married guy who doesn’t have to spend time meeting women, I have had the opportunity to price various things.

The main difference is that there is no consistent relationship between prices like there is in the West. Often it seems arbitrary. I find that there is a multi level pricing system depending partly on supply and demand and partly on the whim of the people selling the goods. Things that ordinary Ukrainians normally buy on a regular basis are very cheap. The things that are bought less frequently or are bought by wealthy Ukrainians or tourists range from comparable to US prices to sometimes higher.

Here is a list (all are prices I have found in the last two weeks in Kherson):
Cup of tea or coffee in a cafe: $0.20
Beer in a cafe (0.5 liter): $0.40
Average meal in a cafe for two: $6
Average meal for two in a nice restaurant (the Ukrainians distinguish between a restaurant and a cafe): $25
Upscale disco door fee (Millenium): $4
4 guys eating a meal and getting incredibly drunk at an upscale disco (hee hee) $80
Game of pool at a fairly nice bar (MakDak , where a guy in a bow tie racks up the balls for you): $0.75
Movie entrance: $0.75
5 km taxi ride; $1
2 liter bottle of Coke: $1
Fancy Ukrainian chocolate bar:  $0.28
Snickers bar: $0.48
Loaf of bread (not the crappy American kind): $0.20
2.2 lbs of the best tasting tomatoes in the world: $0.60
4lbs of the closest thing to steak I could find: $7
Carton of Marlboro Lights: $6
Western shampoo: $2
A nice bra from the market (for my wife—transvestitism is frowned upon in Ukraine): $2
3 liters of bottled water : $0.75
A shirt: $8
A pair of Italian (stylish but goofy looking) shoes: $20
A CD: $3
A VHS video: $3
A DVD: $12-20
A multi-system VCR: $150
A multi-zone VCR/multi-system VCR combo: $500
A window unit air conditioner: $300
A cell phone: $80
A small TV: $300
A big screen: $3000
A microwave: $90
A gallon of gas: $2
A pair of Italian (stylish and not goofy looking) sunglasses: $5
Sitting in a Cafe and watching scores of beautiful girls walk by: Priceless

PS: Great posts Mark(inTX)

... in response to Ukraine Prices (long), posted by TimInKherson on Jun 16, 2002


Thanks for the list Tim! (The thing that always surprised me was the cheap price for beer when eating out!)

I wish I had made it to Kherson. I'm looking forward to going next time.

Are you staying at your own apartment, or with your wife's relatives?

... in response to Re: Ukraine Prices (long), posted by MarkInTx on Jun 16, 2002

We're staying at one of our agency flats. If it's good enough for the boss........:-)

... in response to Re: Re: Ukraine Prices (long), posted by TimInKherson on Jun 17, 2002

Hey Tim,

I have a question about your adopted home town...

Victoria was going to send me her paperwork and photos Via DHL (at my insistence).

She looked into it and found that DHL delivered in 5 days for $40. Considering that regular mail does it in seven, that wasn't so good.

But, I thought that for papers as important as these, it would be good to have the parcel trackable. So, I told her to use DHL anyway.

Problem is, she couldn't find a DHL office.

So, she is sending it via something called: Fast Mail EMS (which, supposedly has trackable service).

Any idea what that is?

... in response to Kherson Question, posted by MarkInTx on Jun 17, 2002

I was really surprised that they wouldn't have a DHL office in Kherson so I called my friend at DHL.  He said the closest service center is in Odessa and they service Kherson.  He said the best thing to do (if you still need them) is to have your girl call the Odessa office to get more info.  The number is 380-487-41-11-11.

They have an office in Dnipropetrovsk, where my girl is from.  It took exactly 4 days (including over the weekend) to get the envelope to me and it cost $47.  I was very imporessed.  I like DHL because whatever you send is quite safe (from what I understand).  

Haven't heard of this Fast Mail EMS..  Perhaps your girl could give DHL a call to see if they would pick up in Kherson..

Later

... in response to Re: Kherson Question, posted by Oscar on Jun 17, 2002

Thanks... that more or less confirms what she told me.

I doubt that DHL woul dmake a one hour drive to Kherson for a $40 package.

Anyway, the package is on its way to me EMS, whatever that is, so its moot now...