In 2018 Ukrainian retirees got a sizable pension increase. The size of an average pension in Kiev doubled, Finance.ua reported. But the situation in many other Ukrainian cities is not as encouraging.
Increases in retirement payments: Kiev and other Ukrainian cities
The average retirement payment in Kiev reached 3,289 hryvnia (USD 116).
- 8 years ago (2010) pensioners had been getting 2.5 times less: only 1,315 hryvnia, according to official statistics. However, at that time the amount equalled US $166.
- In 2000 pensioners in the capital of Ukraine were getting only 81 hryvnia per month (US $15).
- The amount of retirement benefits in 1991 was 103 Soviet rubles, which equalled $57.
Living as a retiree in Ukraine is tough. On the list of best place in the world to retire, it’s close to the bottom.
The majority of Ukrainian seniors are struggling to survive on the seniors pay check. In western regions of Ukraine pensions are much lower than in Kiev.
It was only in 2018 that the minimum amount of pension was lifted to 1,452 hryvnia ($51). On average, retirees from the western part of Ukraine get only this minimum payment.
Speaking about the foreigners who moved to live in the country, they are also eligible for a pension. For instance, there are almost 1.000 retirees from Estonia in Ukraine and they get 4,400 hryvnia (USD $155) per month. The highest payouts among retired foreigners are received by Polish citizens: 7.400 UAH (USD $262).
Similar dynamics we can see in the payment of wages. Last year, a Kiev worker on average earned 11,135 UAH (USD $394) per month. In 2010 the amount was 3,431 UAH (USD $433) in 2010.
At the beginning of the century, the salary of an average Kiev employee was 405 UAH ($73). In 1991, the worker in the capital of Ukraine got 499 Soviet rubles ($285).
It is possible for local retirees to continue working and then apply for a higher payout, if they managed to stay employed for at least 24 months. Since Ukrainians retire fairly early, women at 55 and men at 60, they are able to continue working and get a higher pay check once having acquired the necessary number of contributing years under the belt.
Read also:
- Ukraine raises pension age
- Russian women are gifted 3 years of pension
- How much workers in Ukraine really earn?
- 20 tips for dating in Kiev: Ukrainian women vs. western women
But prices are crazy cheap too. In beach resort town, Zatoka Ukraine, watermelons and honeydew melons were .50 cents each at the top of the resort season. They were .17 cents each as the season ended. Really good champagne is 4 dollars. A liter of coke or beer is .20 cents. Once I saw fresh tomatoes for 5 cents a pound. Moldovans cross into Ukraine to buy things because shopping in Ukraine is cheaper which is really saying something because Moldovan prices are crazy cheap too.
Paul, naturally, prices are cheap. People manage to survive on these pensions and wages in Kiev and the rest of Ukraine.
I was at a hostel and the manager was eating her breakfast. It was one of those paper thin 14 inch diameter bread things. I don’t know what they are called. They are like a burrito wrapper. She spread the wrapper on the table, sprinkled a few rice sized bits of cheese on it, then a little tartar sauce. Folded it over until it was about 2 inches wide and 14 inches long. Cut it into bite sized pieces and fried it in a pan. It probably cost her .10 cents. Eastern European people are the very definition of survivor.… Read more »
Paul, amazing! 🙂
Thank you. I went to Eastern Europe for several months and I had two goals. One isn’t important here. The other was to see if what I heard about prices was true. They are true! The women are that’ good looking too Elena. If you ask most Americans about retiring out of the U.S. they will mention Mexico and Costa Rica. Few mention Eastern Europe. My own investigation concluded with my making plans to move. The average American pension provides a kings lifestyle there and there are other reasons too. So, I’m throwing out there, the other side of things.… Read more »
Wow, Paul, you are moving to Eastern Europe? Cool 🙂