Why is Belarus so expensive?

Hi,

I am still a student and I am thinking of going to Belarus this summer with some friends. We originally thought it was a country where it%26#39;s cheaper than in Western Europe. GDP - per capita is only $12000 and average income is only $288 in 2008.

But after having been looking around on the internet it seems Belarus is quite expensive. Hotels are extremely expensive...so it means we have to rent apartments, which substantially cheaper.

Can somebody please explain to me why Belarus is so expensive?

I read that entrance for disco can vary between $10-20...How can local youth afford these prices (when they go out to disco)?

Thank you.

|||

Will this explanation be a relief to you?

No natural resources, huge social programs, construction of different sport palaces...

Where did you find those US 10-20 entrance fees? Perhaps you should consider more modest places?

Yes, an apartment would be a solution, providing the host processes your registration. Otherwise your way back might be even more expensive.

At least applying for a visa is much easier than for Belarusians to Holland (can you tell me why?).

Enjoy your stay!

Andrei

|||

He Felix,

Thanks for your reply. Yeah that%26#39;s funny...my croatian friends say the same: stupid EU passports can do everything ;-)

I found the idea of $10-15 entrance prices here: http://minsknightlife.net/nightclubs.htm

Can you tell me what kind of youth go to these expensive places? Rich kids only?

And what is the average salary of an university graduate? It gives me a better comparison...

And do you know some good books that can learn me some basic oral russian? I know learning cyrillic is probably too difficult so I think for me is best to focus how to pronounce it.

Thank you.

|||

Well, with my graduate%26#39;s salary of USD 200-300 per month there will always be kids who will be driving Ferraries and buying D%26amp;G and suchlike.

I graduated from Minsk Linguistiс University last year, but I think I am in the average majority between those still unemployed and those able to rent a flat on their own already.

I don%26#39;t quite like Minsk night life site for its black grim outlook and simple design, however they do provide some nightlife info which I am unable to confirm or deny. Actually not a big fan of these bloody clubs.

Once in Minsk try to get yourself a Where Minsk magazine and visit nightclubs whose ads are smaller than half page. I think it can serve as a criteria.

Andrei

|||

Another question: what is the best, most exclusive and most upper class club in Minsk?

I actually love visiting the most exclusive clubs...

|||

Maybe these ones: Versus, Belaya Vezha, Dankoff Club.

|||

Some things in Belarus are expensive but I think for a student trip if you plan things appropriately and shop at the local farmers market in Minsk it should be quite affordable. Where else can you stop at the corner Cafe and get two coffees and two pastries for about a buck? The big football size stadium Farmers Market in downtown Minsk is worth the trouble to go load up on %26quot;carbs%26quot;. You can get cookies, danish and other goodies real cheap for breakfast while you are there. Groceries are similar in price to US prices for just about everything else. Don%26#39;t forget to look in the refrigerator section next to dairy products for the little cheesecakes covered in Chocolate. And of course Vodka can be had very inexpensively, so you could just get drunk in the park outside the University like the locals do! Go to the Circus for about $7-10 bucks ..not in the USA! Ballet is cheap too. Museums seemed affordable if not free in some situations. Lots to do in Minsk that is affordable.Sometimes free outdoor concerts.

|||

The farmer%26#39;s market is presumably Komarovka, or Komarovsky Market.

Be careful with cheap vodka, mates!

|||

haha, i think i know the park Nancy%26#39;s talking about

|||

relax.by - they have all kinds of night clubs, parties and so on there. Check it out if you%26#39;re still going to Belarus