Ukrainians are now spending a smaller share of income food as compared the period 9 years ago, according to the latest statistics report. However, they are spending more on housing.

Are Ukrainians buying cheaper food or eating less?

The share of expenses that Ukrainians are spending on food is down by nearly 8% as compared to 2010, according to Ukrstat.

• 6% of income was spent by Ukrainians on food in 2010.
• By the start of the second quarter of 2019, only 43.8% of income went into buying groceries.

However, the reverse is true in relation to housing expenses. 9 years ago people were spending 9.2% on paying bills for water and electricity (most Ukrainians own their apartments outright without a mortgage, very few people are renting). This year this type of expenses reached 21.6% (12% more).

How does Ukraine compare to other countries?

In 2016 Ukraine was in the top-10 countries where people spend on food the most: American statistics calculated that Ukrainians were spending 38% on meals.

In the same year, other countries spending on food looked like this:

• Belarus: 36.2%
• Russia: 29.9%
• Hungary: 18.3%
• Poland: 16.5%
• Germany: 10.6%
• USA: 6.3%

How much do Ukrainians spend on other needs?

Other types of expenses look like this:

• 3% goes on other non-food goods
• 1% to pay for services
• 2% is spend on gardening, farming

How do Ukrainians get income?

• The major part of income for Ukrainians comes from wages and salaries: 61.7% of the total income that is reviewed for the purposes of statistics.
• Pensions: 19%
• Entrepreneurship: 6.8%
• Financial support from family members: 4.8% (most likely, these are transfers from abroad, this is how it’s possible to calculate them for statistics)
• Other monetary income: 1.2%
• Child support: 0.3%

The last point shows how little Ukrainian fathers pay to support their kids. Rather surprising.

Read also:

• How much do people spend on food in Ukraine as compared to Europe?
• Official statistics on the income of women from Kyiv, Ukraine
• How much do people earn in republics of the former Soviet Union?
• 10 tips how to win a Ukrainian woman’s heart