The following details typical rates of monthly utilities in Odessa.

Water The monthly water bill is nominal – about 25 hryvnia or $5.00, and is paid to the landlord. It is very important to note that tap water is not consumable. This applies to the possibility of old pipes, lead pipes and their integrity. One would be brave to drink water from the faucet even with a Britta filter at the faucet and use of a water pitcher filter. In Odessa, most residential areas do have walking distance access (up to 4-5 blocks) to a purified water dispensary – clean, fresh and free. Alternatively, water is also sold in 5 and 10 liter bottles at most stores.

Gas Gas may or may not be included in rent; but if not included it is still paid to the landlord. With few exceptions, apartments in Ukraine have gas kitchens. Some water heaters use gas, as well.

Electricity Electricity is charged at approximately .244 hryvnia per kilowatt hour. Electricity is charged separately from rent and collected by the landlord. Once per month, someone comes by to try to read the meter and will leave a small note on the door if you don’t answer. Just record the number on your meter on that note and post it outside the door and next time they come by, they’ll pick it up. Don’t pay them however; just pay your landlord for use. It varies in winter and summer, but on average my electric bill comes out to about 100 hryvnia per month for two rooms and a kitchen.

Phone Basic phone service is usually included in monthly rent and is covered by the landlord. You are responsible for usage – whether exceeding the base in local calls, internet service or long-distance calls. Phone usage can be a big problem. Typically, you will be (at least you will want to be) using a cell phone for the majority of your calls. As a rule, most westerners here do not answer their regular phone line. Almost invariably the only people calling us on those lines are telemarketers or have the wrong number and don’t speak English. The real problem with the phone comes when using the line for Internet access, without using ISP call-back services. This can easily lead to $100 phone bills, in addition to the $20 dial-up cards.

Cable Cable services are always separate from rent and require you to make payments to the cable company. Cable service will vary based upon the package you want. My package includes about 60 channels; almost all are in Russian with no premium stations, for 35 hryvnia ($7.00) per month. Packages go up from there.

Internet If you use the Internet actively, you will most likely want a broadband connection – it is cheaper, faster and usually more convenient. The first hurdle to getting a broadband Internet connection is to receive your landlord’s approval, unless a line is already installed. They usually agree as they see it as an improvement coming at your expense. The second hurdle is finding the service provider for your area. The last hurdle is an average two week wait for a technician to come and install the line to your apartment. The line and hardware connection tends to run $80 - $100. Monthly service rates depend upon speed ranging from $15 to $40 per month. Quality of service by Ukrainian ISP’s is improving; Tenet has improved considerably over the past six months even to the point of increasing speed while cutting monthly subscription costs, now paying 85 hryvnia ($17) per month for a 512k broadband connection.

One thing to be aware of is that water and electric utilities are subject to interruption from time to time. It is useful to make inquiries prior to securing an apartment regarding their length and frequency as utility outages can vary considerably. In the center of Odessa, for example, during the summer power outages occur almost daily. I’ve lived in three apartments over two years just outside the center – on average, I see power outages lasting 15 minutes to 2 hours about once every two weeks. Water outages tend to be longer and more frequent, 2 – 6 hours several times a week, but usually cutting off late at night.

One other note is that owing either to the quality of Ukrainian light bulbs, old lines and power surges – it is necessary to maintain a stock of extra light bulbs. Moreover, I strongly advise against buying higher quality light bulbs – because they blow too…