
In international ratings of the standard of living, russia quite often took higher positions than Ukraine. However, the fact that studies usually take a national average hides a big difference between the standard of living in the capital region of russia and in its remote areas.
In fact, Ukraine has never been inferior to russia in terms of living standards as much as the russians would like. For example, the average salary in Ukraine as of 2021 was $550, in russia - $750. This is less by only 30% and without taking into account the purchasing power, because the level of prices in russia is several times higher than in Ukraine.
Another interesting fact is that, for example, the highest level of wages in russia is in the Chukotka Autonomous District - $1,400, the second step is occupied by Moscow and St. Petersburg - about $1,000 per month, in the rest of the regions this figure does not exceed $500. In Ukraine, as a whole, such high stratification is not observed across regions. The average salary in Kyiv is $750, in other regions it is about $500.
We decided to show you and compare the standard of living in Ukraine and russia using the example of six cities, which were grouped into three categories depending on the population.
Millionaire cities: Odesa vs. Omsk
Odesa ranks first in Ukraine in terms of residents' loyalty, only 20% of citizens would like to leave the city. Odessa's advantages include: proximity to the Black Sea, climate, high level of culture and business development. Ukrainians note that it is in Odessa that you can often meet smiling people, because it is also the capital of humor.
The average salary in the city is $500-$600 per month. Conferences, forums and other specialized events are regularly held in Odessa. The city also has good investment attractiveness.
The level of comfort in Odessa should not be neglected. There are 10 beaches, almost 30 parks and squares, more than 100 fitness clubs and gyms, a lot of other entertainment for residents, such as water parks, rafting, and a dolphinarium. There are also many museums, exhibitions, and theaters. Most Odessans prefer a healthy lifestyle, which is facilitated by natural products and the "Health Route" walking route along the sea.
So, Odesa is culture, business, tourism, sports and recreation. The city is developing every day, and its population is constantly increasing.
More than 39% of Omsk residents want to leave the city. In 2021, the Omsk region ranked 1st in Russia in terms of the number of people who left their native region, although it ranks in the middle in terms of living standards in Russia.
The climate in the city is quite harsh. In summer, the temperature reaches +40°C, in winter -40°C, this is due to the distance from the sea.
The ecological situation in Omsk leaves much to be desired. Most of the high-tech factories have closed down, but polluting enterprises are operating at full capacity. Most of the city's residents work in trade and service. The average salary in the city is $450-500 per month.
According to the level of social conflict, Omsk is among the 5 worst cities in russia. The city has a very high level of drug addiction, especially among young people. The probability of finding a student in the city who has not tried drugs is close to zero. The topic of Omsk and drugs is very popular in the russian segment of the Internet. The city also has a high level of alcoholism and crime.
Instead, Omsk is considered the largest historical and cultural center of Trans-Urals and the theater capital of provincial russia. However, it is worth noting that, unfortunately, not all residents of the city like to visit theaters and museums. One of the favorite places of Omsk residents is "Arena-Omsk", a hockey stadium on the left bank. The local hockey team Avangard is a business card of the city. It is a generally accepted fact that hockey is not loved anywhere in russia as much as in Omsk.
Average by the number of city residents: Vinnytsia vs. Tver
Vinnytsia is one of the leaders among Ukrainian cities in terms of comfort and safety. 41% of Vinnytsia residents say that they feel completely safe when walking around the city at night, even if it is an area far from the center. And 59% of citizens are sure that their city is quite modern and successfully uses technological innovations. Vinnytsia has a well-developed cycling infrastructure and, in fact, the best public transport in Ukraine.
Another advantage of Vinnytsia is that they try to equip not only the city center, but also remote areas: infrastructure, transport, road surface, alleys and recreation areas at a fairly high level.
At the same time, 74% of Vinnytsia residents support the vector of the city's development. The new Development Strategy was adopted in 2021 for ten years. The main emphasis is on the city becoming a "magnet", making a breakthrough in development and becoming competitive at the national and regional levels. That is, the local government is interested in the development of the region, and the population takes an active part in it.