Киев
KIEV UKRAINE
General
Location & Transportation
Language
Climate
Economy
Culture
Cost of Living
Accomodation
Entertainment
Communications
Safety
Medicine
General
Kiev or Kyiv (Ukrainian spelling) is the capital and the largest city in Ukraine. It is located in the central part of the country on the Dniper River. The population estimates range from 3.5 to 4 million.
Lots of information is available on the historical importance of Kiev, so in this section we simply want to relay information that we think is important for those considering visiting, moving or conducting business in Kiev Ukraine. If you wish to read on various historical aspects of Kiev you can do so at Kiev Wikipedia page.
Today’s Kiev is a mix of old and new Europe with sprinkles of Soviet residue on top. Downtown Kiev is as cosmopolitan as any European capital, with high end fashion stores, trendy restaurants and chic nightclubs. At the same time, it is filled with historical attractions ranging from those built hundreds of years go to more modern Soviet erected monuments.
Location & Transportation
Kiev is located in the central park of Ukraine and has two Airports (international & domestic), albeit the International Airport (KBP) serves many domestic flights as well.
Public transportation is well developed and includes metro, buses, trolleybuses & trams. Most of the transportation costs are subsidized by the government, making them much cheaper than other European capitals. While owning a car is not a must in Kiev, it does make getting around considerably easier. In addition to state subsidized system, there are also privately owned minibuses (marshrutkas) which run through various points of the city and are also quiet affordable (2 UAH per ride regardless of the distance). The metro system is well maintained and is surprisingly precise; making it the quickest way to get around, particularly during busy rush hours which during weekdays often put the city center to a grinding halt.
Taxis are also easily available typically through calling and placing an order. Depending on the service, taxis will usually be at your location within 5-10 minutes of the placed call. Prices for taxis vary greatly – to get a list of Taxi providers in Kiev ask us. It is also common for locals with a car to provide taxi service to those seeking it by the roadside. In such cases, a fare is pre agreed and typically the service providers are looking to pickup those which are going to same general direction as the driver. As a standard, this way of transportation is cheaper than calling or waving down professional taxi companies.
Parking in central Kiev can be problematic with few underground spaces available and ambiguous rules for outdoor parking. It is legal to park on the sidewalk, as long as the car is more than 2 meters away from a wall. There are many parking attendants in the center of the city which charge a small fee to look after a car while the driver is absent.
Language
Official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian but Kiev residents tend to use Russian language more commonly, particularly in the city center. Ukrainian language as a standard is spoken exclusively on municipal or educational premises. There is not a big difference between two languages and it is not uncommon for a dialogue to be conducted in both (speaker in Russian with speaker in Ukrainian).
Climate
Kiev has overall comfortable climate with occasional winters being fairly cold. The warmest months are June through August with average mean temperatures of 14 to 25 degrees Celsius. The coldest months are December through February with mean temperatures of negative 5 to 0 Celsius. Snow is common during the winter and will usually be on the ground from end of November though early March.
Economy
As most capital cities, Kiev is a hub for major administrative, cultural and scientific community of Ukraine. Naturally it is the largest economic center of Ukraine. Conducting business in Ukraine is in many ways is different from Western Europe or US.
It is no secret that corruption is vast; however, the upside is that while corruption exists, it is easily quantifiable so that most businesses can easily incorporate its costs into any type of financial projection.
Most expats who open businesses in Ukraine put aside ethical reservations and equate costs of corruption to costs of various registration and compliance documents which are common in Western Europe and United States. The most frustrating aspects of opening up business in Kiev is simply knowing the process and having the contacts to obtain all required documentation. Unlike the West, much of the information may not simply be easily accessible, particularly to a non native speaker. For those considering opening or relocating business to Ukraine, we at UA Realty Group can help every step of the way with our business start up assistance service.
Culture
Generally speaking the culture in Ukraine is not vastly different from that of the West. Naturally there are some customs which may seem odd to some, but every country has them. For a more comprehensive list of etiquette in Ukraine you can click here.
Few items which are worth pointing out - smiling as a matter of being polite is not customary. People smile when there is a reason to smile and not for other reasons, such as for example United States where it is often customary to smile, particularly from service people when dealing with clients. It is also seldom that people say ‘excuse me’ when bumping into each other or accidentally cutting through. This is not a reflection of politeness of that individual, but rather of the overall culture.
Women on the whole assume and are much more comfortable in a ‘traditional female’ role than their Western counterparts and tend to dress in a much more feminine manner which is especially evident during the summer with great number of mini skirts and dresses seen on the streets. It is also fairly acceptable for newly met acquaintances to ask personal questions such as lifestyle, earnings, political beliefs, etc.
Cost of Living
It is a common misconception by new visitors to think that Kiev is a very cheap city. While it is substantially less expensive than many other European capitals, it probably can not be categorized as being ‘cheap’.
The central part of Kiev contains the same boutiques as large cities such as Moscow, Rome, Paris and others, with prices being approximately the same on the items sold there. Many apartments in the central part of Kiev are also very expensive, particularly those located on the main street of Kreschatik and ones containing luxury amenities. However, those that spend an extended period of time in Kiev, learn that there are many ways to bypass the relative high cost of living in Kiev and realize that in comparison to other European capitals, Kiev is in fact fairly cheap.
If you are considering coming to Kiev for a prolonged period of time, you may want to consider using our long term rental assistance program or if you are staying a few days to a few weeks, you could consider our short term fully furnished apartment rentals.
To get a more comprehensive review of cost of living in Kiev you can click here.
Accommodations
The central part of Kiev consists of mixture of modern buildings, Soviet construction (with major subtypes being Kruchevskas and Stalinkas) and Revolutionary (and prerevolutionary) construction. Kruchevskas are typically 5 story buildings, built during Kruchev era in 1960s and are considered to be inferior to most other construction. Stlanikas, built during Stalin era are considered to be higher quality with apartment sizes typically more spacious than Kruschevskas. Revolutionary construction is often sought after, particularly in buildings which have been well maintained. Construction done during, before or after around 1917 revolution typically has the most character and the apartments as a standard are more spacious. New construction apartments are also well sought after, although the quality of new construction has yet to be tested by time.
There is no ‘suburban’ type of homes in the city limits of Kiev. People live almost exclusively in apartments and the first thing that many expats notice is the typically poor conditions of common entrances of the buildings (podyezds). This is a result of absence of ‘maintenance service charges’ in Ukraine, although some residents make an agreement amongst themselves to pay for renovation / maintenance of the entry way. While it may appear shocking at first, after some time most visitors do not even notice the condition of entry ways in Ukraine as obviously all of the living time is spent inside the actual apartment and not inside the entry way.
Additional noteworthy comments are regarding Hotels and daily apartment rentals. As most know, Hotels in most of former Soviet Union typically do not match the quality from a price standpoint. That is not to say there are no good Hotels in Ukraine, it is simply that there are so few of them, that they get away charging much more than their counterparts in the West with well developed competition. Therefore, throughout most of Eastern (and even Western) Europe daily apartment rentals offer a great alternative. In many instances, simple accommodations with comparable qualities can cost as little as 30% of the equivalent hotel room and have an even more central location. Further, if traveling with large groups, apartments of course offer a more spacious and comfortable accommodation for the group.
Many can also be surprised initially to see the long term rental rates in Kiev, but do understand that most of what is seen on the Internet is only a small fraction of options available for long term rent. Most options never make it to the Internet and remain listed either in newspapers or other local publications. Whether your stay is short or long, we offer solutions for both short term rental and long term rental needs.
Entertainment
Kiev is filled with entertainment options ranging from trendy nightclubs to low key hangouts. There are also a number of entertainment complexes which have been recently completed, offering variety of leisure options such as bowling, ice skating, billiards, arcades and more all under the same roof. There is also an abundance of restaurants, ranging in all tastes and budgets. Many websites are devoted to providing information on Kiev hangouts and you can start by looking at Wiki Travel Kiev or explore Russian websites such as Afisha UA. Afisha also offers an updated list of concerts and exhibitions taking place in Kiev.
There are also numerous parks all throughout Kiev and outside for the nature lovers. Finally, there are numerous cultural attractions, ranging from live theater to outdoor concerts and so on.
Communications
Ukraine uses a GSM 900/1800 standard for mobile phone communications. This system is compatible for mobile phone networks used in Europe, most of Asia, Australia and New Zealand. If you have an unlocked dual or tri band phone, it will function in Ukraine. You will need to simply purchase a SIM card or starter package as they are called which typically cost no more than $5 depending on the provider.
Starter packages or SIM cards are sold at any communication stores or street vendors (sitting under umbrellas with Kyvstar logos). You can purchase as much talk time as you require from the same vendors. Talk time is issued in the form of a unique code which is entered into your phone. Users pay only for outgoing calls and all incoming calls are free. You can easily check the balance on your phone at anytime. To get more information on phone communications in Ukraine you can visit Wiki Kiev phone information.
Internet is widely available in almost all daily apartment rentals and can be easily ordered for any apartment that is rented long term, even if it is not yet wired for it. There are also many Internet cafes (some open 24 hours) which can be used for access. Finally, many cafes and restaurants now offer free Wi Fi access.
Safety
Generally speaking Kiev is a very safe city and in some regards safer than most of its Western counterparts or North American cities. Violent crime is seldom but petty crime such as pick pocketing or various street scams can be common. Westerners can be targeted for various street scams more so than the locals, so use common sense and ignore anyone trying to speak to you that look suspicious. Also, it is wise to keep a close eye on your bag along with your wallet, especially during rush hour in the metro or other busy areas. Pickpockets can be highly organized and can use various distractions on their targets.
Avoid drinking water from the tap, unless it has been boiled. Bottled water is very cheap and is available anywhere, including numerous 24 hour kiosks scattered across the city.
It is also not uncommon to see groups of teenagers or young adults to be hanging out in courtyards or on city benches during various hours of the night. This sight is common and while may appear alerting to Westerners, it is typical for Ukraine and poses no safety concern. To get a more comprehensive guide to staying safe in Ukraine you can visit Wiki stay safe section.
Medicine
While greatly improved from just a few years ago, medicine in Ukraine lags that of the West. It is useful to know that technically medicine in Ukraine is socialize & free, although in reality this is not the case and small payments to ‘free’ doctors are still expected. Facilities provided by the government are usually outdated and are old fashioned. For expats which are used to a certain level of service and quality in the medical field, it is suggested to use privately owned clinics, which are much cheaper than those in the West. For instance, Kiev is home for an American Medical Centers which is on par with any facility one may be used to.
Dental care is fairly advanced and modern dental offices are common. Services cost a fraction of that in the West and have even spurred a small but growing medical / dental tourism into Ukraine.
