Quote: (12-07-2014 08:07 AM)William Windsor Wrote:  

Quote: (12-07-2014 07:23 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  

Even with the devaluation Russia is still more expensive by far than Ukraine though. Friends there tell me that prices are going up so cheaper than before yes but not cheap. Add to that visa costs and I don't see the advantage of Russia over Ukraine.

I've never been to Russia but that makes sense. The ruble has been devalued something like 40% in the past year? The Ukrainain hryvnia has devalued about 50% in that same time, and before the economy crisis started Ukraine was already cheaper.

BTW, I found a money exchange in Kharkiv that gives me a better rate if I exchange 1000 USD or more in one go. They are giving an extra 6%. So it's worth asking if you can get a better rate for doing large transactions.

U r walking solo into a money exchanger w $1000? What security precautions are u taking if any?

Not sure why you would want to be screwing around with cash at all, given the 12+% interest that major, international banks in UA are paying on deposit accounts.
Why don't you open a UniCredit/Alfa/Raiffeisen/UkrSib account and do it online?

Quote: (12-07-2014 01:05 PM)TripleG Wrote:  

While I am on the subject of Russia I figure I might as well ask what do you guys think of visiting Russia early next year for a month and traveling to 2nd tier cities (primarily on the Trans-Siberian route) like Yekaterinburg & Irkutsk? Would it be perfectly safe for a foreigner from USA or should I play off my European roots? (in case it matters I can pass for a local in some situations in terms of both looks and Russian language knowledge). Thanks.

It's perfectly safe man. Nothing to worry about.
Normal Russians from second tier cities or villages on the train will probably find it very interesting to find an American friend.

What will happen when they found you are a Yank is probably that they will offer you a lot of booze and food. You will get drunk.

If you speak Russian, try to avoid political subjects when they starting to ask this or that. Like presidentcarter mentioned above.
Tell them how great and interesting country Russia is and everybody is happy.

Nationalism on the rise..

Well, yes. Not too long ago EU and Russia were talking about a visa free agreement.
Now that feels further away than the moon.

We were discussing about this new Russian nationalism on the rise in some other thread.
I wrote that 20 year old girls on VK are writing to me out of the blue why EU/US are trying to hurt Russia. "We have a strong leader and are more pathriotic than ever"
"Russian people are united" and bla bla bla...

A Russian also pulled a gun and a knife on me once in St.Petersburg, but that had probably nothing to do with any nationalism.

However.
Russian propaganda machinery is obviously working.
Some Russians who are living here are also convinced that everything that comes from Western media is lies.

Nothing new under the sun.

A saying that Finns are often using.
" A Russian is still a Russian even if you fry him in butter"

...

Quote: (12-07-2014 08:43 PM)MichaelCorleone Wrote:  

U r walking solo into a money exchanger w $1000? What security precautions are u taking if any?

I haven't done any large transactions there yet, I was just planning on going there with my gf. It's an exchange office with a fixed location, on the street, do you think it's risky? (see pics in the link below)

Quote: (12-07-2014 08:35 AM)The Ligurian Wrote:  

Is this a dodgy street exchange or is it safe?

You can see it in these pictures, and you can also see the rates they give you for 1000 USD or larger. As you can see, they are offering better than the google rate:
http://obmenka.kharkov.ua/

I don't mean to hijack this thread about Ukraine money exchanging, although if exchange offices in Russia are also out of dollars, I would imagine the same idea applies there, that one could get a better rate than the official exchange rate if you ask around, maybe asking the person at the exchange office itself on how to get a better rate.

So I thought I'd show a basket of goods I just purchased and it's price at the current RUB/USD fx rate. I'll compare in six months or so and see if/how inflation has impacted some every day items.

Everything here was purchased for $11.36 total (and 10 minutes on the metro from Red Square). Biggest items were the 0.5L of Stoli ($4.63) and bag of chicken strips ($3.32).

A similar bag of chicken strips would be about $9 in the U.S. The Stoli would be what, about $10-15?

Back home in Canada a 0.5l goes for about $20 CAD all alone. So, about $17 USD.

Christ, Eastern Europe is cheap.

Damn liquor taxes.

HSLD

We have the same Soda and Salt here. Crazy its so cheap, I just got my new passport and I guess I need to apply for the visa and drive my car to St. Petersburg. Its only 3-4 hours. Probably not so good idea to take car with Estonian plates though.

Quote: (12-08-2014 01:52 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

So I thought I'd show a basket of goods I just purchased and it's price at the current RUB/USD fx rate. I'll compare in six months or so and see if/how inflation has impacted some every day items.

Pres. maybe also post the individual prices in Roubles and the exchange rate you're using, just for reference. A bit of a pain in the ass, but that data would be interesting as you'll see how inflation affects different items. Water, for example, shouldn't move much because it's completely local and there isn't an international market for it. Chicken and Heinz ketchup on the other hand...

Quote: (12-08-2014 02:19 PM)evilhei Wrote:  

We have the same Soda and Salt here. Crazy its so cheap, I just got my new passport and I guess I need to apply for the visa and drive my car to St. Petersburg. Its only 3-4 hours. Probably not so good idea to take car with Estonian plates though.

No problems with Estonian plates. There are plenty of them here and everyone just assumes they're our Baltic Russian brothers. In any case, there are hypermarkets in Kingisepp, so you don't need to go deep into enemy territory.

Many electronics items are a real bargain at the moment... The iPhone price was recently adjusted, but other Apple products are the cheapest you'll find anywhere. Cameras and lenses, audio equipment, etc. also very cheap.
Basically, many products will be incredibly cheap until the existing stock moves through the system.

Keep in mind vodka is cheap, but that's about it. Wine, whiskey, etc. are more than in the states.

Also inflation has yet to really crank up, give it 6 months. Russians are buying Porsches and digital SLRs en masse right now because they're 40% cheaper than in Europe or the US. That won't last.

Also that juice you posted I'm pretty sure is not juice (orange sugar water). I notice you don't have any produce or fresh meat, which are not cheap.

But yes if you buy frozen chicken meat, rough brown toilet paper, a bag of salt, fake juice, a shoe cleaner to wipe off the persistent mud that's everywhere, and water because you can't drink from the tap, then it's cheaper than that would cost in the West.

Quote:Quote:

But yes if you buy frozen chicken meat, rough brown toilet paper, a bag of salt, fake juice, a shoe cleaner to wipe off the persistent mud that's everywhere, and water because you can't drink from the tap, then it's cheaper than that would cost in the West.

Bingo...and in USA we can drink our tap water(NY water is better than bottle water).'
My experience is in UA NOT RU but the whole UA is cheaper isn't really true, so I imagine it is similar in RU.

In USA services tend to cost more since labor cost more but I find almost everything else is cheaper in USA. Most people don't spend disposable income on services and GOOD service actually is expensive in FSU.

At one time flat apt prices were cheaper but that changed also.
I bought a 2 bedroom , 2 bathroom home in a good area of Las Vegas 1200 sq ft for 70k with land. Price would now be 140k. Can't find the same quality in FSU.

Cars, electronics cost more.
Night club admissions about the same but in the west you can just go to dance and not spend a dime while FSU clubs are all about getting your money by having you sit at a table like a fat slug stuffing your face with a cheese/fruit plate and alcohol.
Roosh says he spent 28 bucks for a hambuger and fries. Me and my wife can eat a bigger /better meal at Applebees for the same price..and that is for 2 lol.
Yes Apllebees is a cheap chain restaurant but the food is better than anything I remember in Kiev. In fact the best western type restaurant back in the day was Arizona which is basically a copy of Applebees and Dallas BBQ that we have in the states.

Sure UA(RU) is cheap if you buy sunflower seeds and carrot salad off of babushka's.

My boss was Australian he loved it because he was a drunk and smoker..that is cheaper. If you are into vice go live in FSU lol.

Quote: (12-08-2014 03:23 PM)BigDave Wrote:  

Keep in mind vodka is cheap, but that's about it. Wine, whiskey, etc. are more than in the states.

For the time being, I doubt that. I'll check tomorrow.

Quote: (12-08-2014 03:23 PM)BigDave Wrote:  

But yes if you buy frozen chicken meat, rough brown toilet paper, a bag of salt, fake juice, a shoe cleaner to wipe off the persistent mud that's everywhere, and water because you can't drink from the tap, then it's cheaper than that would cost in the West.

You've got a point but you're also missing the point. No where in my post am I comparing overall value for money or quality compared to other places. I pointed out two items that are, currently, absurdly cheap here compared to elsewhere. And as to the basket of goods I got, I go to the shop just about every day and this was today's bounty. I'm happy to do it again with less proletarian goods if that makes you feel better.

But, even the fresh meats (chicken, turkey, beef) are cheaper. I bought a container of ground turkey for 109 rubles yesterday ($2.02), still astronomically cheaper than U.S. and of similar quality.

The fake juice is about all you can buy here. No "simply orange" or anything with real pulp for that matter.

And I always used a Brita filter for water in the states. Only difference here is that I don't even want filtered water, only bottled.

Persistent mud? Moscow isn't the cleanest city, but my stomping grounds aren't any muddier than in NYC or London. You're going to need lots of shoe shine in any city that gets snow.

Quote: (12-08-2014 01:52 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

So I thought I'd show a basket of goods I just purchased and it's price at the current RUB/USD fx rate. I'll compare in six months or so and see if/how inflation has impacted some every day items.

Everything here was purchased for $11.36 total (and 10 minutes on the metro from Red Square). Biggest items were the 0.5L of Stoli ($4.63) and bag of chicken strips ($3.32).

A similar bag of chicken strips would be about $9 in the U.S. The Stoli would be what, about $10-15?

That TP brings back memories but it isn't as bad as you think it would be you get used to it. Buying stuff by onesies and twosies is crazy to think about it but with the space you have in an apartment over there its optimal. The business is paying the warehousing costs. Those old brands of soda and things needed just to live. Are those chicken strips whole or made from particles?

Quote: (12-08-2014 04:04 PM)cool guy Wrote:  

Quote: (12-08-2014 01:52 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

So I thought I'd show a basket of goods I just purchased and it's price at the current RUB/USD fx rate. I'll compare in six months or so and see if/how inflation has impacted some every day items.

Everything here was purchased for $11.36 total (and 10 minutes on the metro from Red Square). Biggest items were the 0.5L of Stoli ($4.63) and bag of chicken strips ($3.32).

A similar bag of chicken strips would be about $9 in the U.S. The Stoli would be what, about $10-15?

That TP brings back memories but it isn't as bad as you think it would be you get used to it. Buying stuff by onesies and twosies is crazy to think about it but with the space you have in an apartment over there its optimal. The business is paying the warehousing costs. Those old brands of soda and things needed just to live. Are those chicken strips whole or made from particles?

I have plenty of space in my current spot, I just don't like to carry an eight pack of TP down the street every time I need it. And the chicken is actually good - better than the Tyson frozen stuff. It's whole meat and uncooked (pink) inside before you cook it.

Baking soda.

Quote:Quote:

ersistent mud? Moscow isn't the cleanest city, but my stomping grounds aren't any muddier than in NYC or London. You're going to need lots of shoe shine in any city that gets snow.

Have you been to NYC? It in the worst winter barely snows and one doesn't get mud or filthy layers of soil on their shoes most months, especially in Manhattan where it gets shoveled almost immediately.

In Kiev(Odessa is worst) one shoe gets dusty/muddy walking 2-3 blocks lol. And the ground is hard...if your soles aren't thick you actually feel the pain as you walk on the ground.

Then add the cold freeze where just standing in an open market for 15 minutes and your toes start to freeze. I got more cold in similar weather in my feet in 15 minutes as I would standing on patrol for 8 hours. Not bad if they actually had good socks and gloves but if I remember most Russians being macho don't believe in gloves so in TSUM you can barely find good thick full socks to keep ones toes warm or gloves.

However if one likes local food(DaveR?) there is ONE great opportunity. You can cheaply hire a women to come and clean 2-3 times a week who will actually cook from scratch for you. Have her buy the ingredients and pay her back. You can eat cheaply this way and have home cooked meals that last 7 days a week.

In fact this is my new DECREE(muhahaha)....all expats should hire a cook/cleaning lady to come 2 times a week. You will save money and have the xtra time to game. You will NEVER have to eat out again unless when gaming or you want to. Plus your clothes and crib will be spotless.

Remember they can get the food at half of what you pay!

Quote: (12-08-2014 05:11 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  

In Kiev(Odessa is worst) one shoe gets dusty/muddy walking 2-3 blocks lol. And the ground is hard...if your soles aren't thick you actually feel the pain as you walk on the ground.

Quote: (12-08-2014 05:11 PM)jimukr104 Wrote:  

However if one likes local food(DaveR?) there is ONE great opportunity. You can cheaply hire a women to come and clean 2-3 times a week who will actually cook from scratch for you. Have her buy the ingredients and pay her back. You can eat cheaply this way and have home cooked meals that last 7 days a week.

In fact this is my new DECREE(muhahaha)....all expats should hire a cook/cleaning lady to come 2 times a week. You will save money and have the xtra time to game. You will NEVER have to eat out again unless when gaming or you want to. Plus your clothes and crib will be spotless.

Remember they can get the food at half of what you pay!

Not a bad idea. Several girls have actually suggested this and I thought they were joking, but now that you mention it I guess they were serious.

I wouldn't actually do it thought even if it were dirt cheap. It takes five minutes a day to keep a clean flat and I enjoy cooking my own food. Plus I don't want some cranky babushka shuffling around in my kitchen.

I've got a cleaning Uzbechka and a cooking Italiana. Highly recommend both. I have to smuggle in a lot of the Italian ingredients and smoked salmon from Finland and Belarus.

Quote: (12-08-2014 03:23 PM)BigDave Wrote:  

Keep in mind vodka is cheap, but that's about it. Wine, whiskey, etc. are more than in the states.

Also inflation has yet to really crank up, give it 6 months. Russians are buying Porsches and digital SLRs en masse right now because they're 40% cheaper than in Europe or the US. That won't last.

Also that juice you posted I'm pretty sure is not juice (orange sugar water). I notice you don't have any produce or fresh meat, which are not cheap.

But yes if you buy frozen chicken meat, rough brown toilet paper, a bag of salt, fake juice, a shoe cleaner to wipe off the persistent mud that's everywhere, and water because you can't drink from the tap, then it's cheaper than that would cost in the West.

Lol...This exactly.

But ill give the benefit of the doubt.. he hasnt been their that long.

I made the same mistake of buying shitty products my first week in Budapest.

I also bought the fake orange juice.
*The stores have orange juice...you just need to learn the proper name so you dont buy the fake stuff.

** Find a girl in the grocery story or shop to help you out and help you buy real products.

Quote: (12-08-2014 03:52 PM)presidentcarter Wrote:  

No where in my post am I comparing overall value for money or quality compared to other places. I pointed out two items that are, currently, absurdly cheap here compared to elsewhere. And as to the basket of goods I got, I go to the shop just about every day and this was today's bounty.

Sounds good man, didn't mean to criticize, just don't want some people thinking all goods are cheap. Right now I agree we're in a weird transitional period, but that next shipment of wine/whiskey over will go way up in price. I'm already starting to see this at my local store.

Quote:Quote:

The fake juice is about all you can buy here. No "simply orange" or anything with real pulp for that matter.

Here's something I can help you out with. Almost every store has real orange juice (maybe some produkty's don't, but all supermarkets do). Just be sure to get one of the ones that says "100% сок". Lots of them say "100% качество" (100% quality) which means they are fake. Your brand there I just know is one of the cheap ones, hence fake. Look for Я or Rich, those two are real at least for orange/grapefruit juice. Sterilized though, so non-refrigerated.

Pres, how are you finding gaming during that bitter cold Moscow winter?

Are people out much on fri & sat nights? I wonder how viable daygame is with people trying to get someplace heated as fast as possible. And it's not exactly the best plan to be hollering in English on crowded Metro stations & trains.

Quote: (12-09-2014 02:05 AM)Courage Reborn Wrote:  

I wonder how viable daygame is with people trying to get someplace heated as fast as possible. And it's not exactly the best plan to be hollering in English on crowded Metro stations & trains.

I'd figure malls would be your best bet for cold-weather daygaming in that instance.

HSLD

Quote: (12-09-2014 12:20 AM)BigDave Wrote:  

Here's something I can help you out with. Almost every store has real orange juice (maybe some produkty's don't, but all supermarkets do). Just be sure to get one of the ones that says "100% сок". Lots of them say "100% качество" (100% quality) which means they are fake. Your brand there I just know is one of the cheap ones, hence fake. Look for Я or Rich, those two are real at least for orange/grapefruit juice. Sterilized though, so non-refrigerated.

I've had the Rich juice before, and I do remember it being better, but still not the like in the U.S., maybe due to the non-refrigeration like you said. This stuff I bought as a mixer with the vodka so I went cheap. I really do need to start reading and translating the labels on things more often.

When I moved here last year, my old roommate and I both at different points bought kefir thinking it was milk and were rudely surprised when gulping it down in the morning. I'd didn't even know what kefir was and thought my milk was just spoiled (happens here, I've actually gone to shops where the refrigeration isn't even on and the milk is room temp), but after I read and translated the kefir label I realized it.

^^By the way, check out the app 'Word Lens Translator' for translating labels etc to English. It translates live on the screen: