I don't meat to disappoint you, but Kiev is very expensive and job opportunities are very scarce even for an expat with your background. About ten years age the situation was very different as the costs of living including rent were lower (both in comparison to western Europe and to what it is today) and the economy was growing. New companies with western capital were springing up (especially in Kiev) and some well known multinationals were openning their offices in the capital. The demand for native speakers from different countries was strong and as a consecuence many expats were finding employment (with good salaries and prospects for growth) However, since that time the country has gone backwards because the promise of more development never really materialized, while expats kept coming to Kiev where the costs of living reached western European levels. So now Kiev is one of the most expensive places in EASTERN Europe, with very high Real Estate prices, very few companies hiring and very many expats living in the city looking for some meant to sustain themselves. I am saying all this to underline the fact that the European flovor which Kiev and some of the other Ukrainian cities have can not mask the unreformed nature of the Ukrainian economy (from Soviet times), leading to LOTS of CORRUPTION (needing to pay bribes wherever you go and whatever you decide to do) and VERY FEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. Even If you find some work it is only in Kiev that monthly incomes approach $500 with jobs in other regions paying much less. Having said all that - enjoy your time in Kiev, just be real about your prospects of building a life in Ukraine.
Oleg Yatskar
oleg_yatskar@hotmail.com
