Hi Andrei, Thanks for sharing. I just left Minsk 5 days ago (May 7) and cannot believe all the trees are now green. Wow! I wish I could stay another week. 🙂What I found out was that Yandex (your version of Uber) is pretty good with food delivery. Uber here has so many hidden fees which surprise you after placing your order. I ordered groceries through Uber yesterday and for $51 groceries, I paid $68 excluding taxes ($17 was for delivery, services, and tips) but I remember in Minsk for the same number of groceries I paid about $20 and Yandex charges were not more than $2 or $3.
I guess being an informed pessimist means you are never disappointed and once in a while you are pleasantly surprised. That's a healthy state of being ))
Thank you for the update. Always a good source of information. Also thank you for the reply to my email earlier today. Had a conversation and the issue is resolved, I will be flying in to Minsk on june 15th 💪
Hi Andrei. Arrived in Belarus last Saturday. When in Minsk will try to say hi. Had arrived with a bunch of cash worried about not able to use ATM’s. But seems not to be a problem with ATM’s. ATM’s I get RBY 3.30 to $1. But if I want to change Cash 💰 I only get RBY 2.60. That’s in Mogilev. Going to explore more around the town with banks and ATM’s. Also only able to withdrawal RBY 100 at a time. Is this also the going rate in Minsk as well for $ ?
MC/Visa were giving 2.54 yesterday, I doubt u got 3.3, do the math again, try MC Curve with Agro (max.500/W) 7BYN fee, Revolut Visa with most common Green BelorusBank 200/W, blue Gas 5k/W, BNB GoldenLion only big cities though
Andrei - if I needed more information about living and life in Belarus. Is there any other way besides the comment section to get a hold of you ?. Is there a way you can be reached by email ?.
According to Bing, right now 1 GBP = 4 BYN. That means... £1.50 for 10 Eggs £3.00 for 1 lb Butter £1.75 for 1 lb Cottage Cheese £2.20 for 1 lb Honey Those prices would be considered to be very high in a UK supermarket. I've no idea how people in Belarus manage.
it's worse, Bing, Google etc.shows u artificial "west" exchange rate for what no Barclays,NatWest etc. branch is going to give u some BYN, u only get 3.039 from MC&Visa @ BY ATM, the only explanation to this riddle are around 3M BY Gastarbeitern in EU,US & Russia remittenting to 9M4 back home
We don't work in lb here though. 1lb = 450g. 250g butter in Aldi is £1.99 which is around £7.96/kg which is around £3.58/lb. So Belarus is still expensive considering income.
Wow i thought food was relatively cheap in Belarus. Seems similar to prices here in the UK except our average wage is like 5 times higher.
That's exactly why we never smile)
On top of a few other factors, naturally.
Hi Andrei, Thanks for sharing. I just left Minsk 5 days ago (May 7) and cannot believe all the trees are now green. Wow! I wish I could stay another week. 🙂What I found out was that Yandex (your version of Uber) is pretty good with food delivery. Uber here has so many hidden fees which surprise you after placing your order. I ordered groceries through Uber yesterday and for $51 groceries, I paid $68 excluding taxes ($17 was for delivery, services, and tips) but I remember in Minsk for the same number of groceries I paid about $20 and Yandex charges were not more than $2 or $3.
This place surely wins with numbers)
Thank you!
Cheers)
I guess being an informed pessimist means you are never disappointed and once in a while you are pleasantly surprised. That's a healthy state of being ))
I find it rather fascinating )
Thank you for the update. Always a good source of information. Also thank you for the reply to my email earlier today. Had a conversation and the issue is resolved, I will be flying in to Minsk on june 15th 💪
Sounds great!)
From what country are you flying, and which country is the connection to Minsk? You're going to love it here!!
Thanks for the info!!, I was very impressed by that market, on my few visits!
Same, cheers)
I love that market ;-) Great food there.
Indeed)
One of my favorite choices at the grocery is the broiled chicken.
Depends on the producer, of course)
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Dziakuj
Hi Andrei. Arrived in Belarus last Saturday. When in Minsk will try to say hi. Had arrived with a bunch of cash worried about not able to use ATM’s. But seems not to be a problem with ATM’s. ATM’s I get RBY 3.30 to $1. But if I want to change Cash 💰 I only get RBY 2.60. That’s in Mogilev. Going to explore more around the town with banks and ATM’s. Also only able to withdrawal RBY 100 at a time. Is this also the going rate in Minsk as well for $ ?
Will be happy to meet - Sunday meeting of expats is at 1900 at Malt and Hops)
Rate is about the same countrywide.
MC/Visa were giving 2.54 yesterday, I doubt u got 3.3, do the math again, try MC Curve with Agro (max.500/W) 7BYN fee, Revolut Visa with most common Green BelorusBank 200/W, blue Gas 5k/W, BNB GoldenLion only big cities though
for polish standards it's all high. Edit. except honey.
Thank you for the input.
Andrei - if I needed more information about living and life in Belarus. Is there any other way besides the comment section to get a hold of you ?. Is there a way you can be reached by email ?.
No problem at all - in my each video I very openly say that my contacts are under the video, along with donation links :)
@@MinskGuide Sorry I must have missed that, and thanks.
No worries, many people do :) If you're around, this Sunday meeting for expats is at 1900, Malt and Hops.
According to Bing, right now 1 GBP = 4 BYN.
That means...
£1.50 for 10 Eggs
£3.00 for 1 lb Butter
£1.75 for 1 lb Cottage Cheese
£2.20 for 1 lb Honey
Those prices would be considered to be very high in a UK supermarket. I've no idea how people in Belarus manage.
I believe you converted kg to lb, so sounds right.
I also stumble upon local survival techniques.
it's worse, Bing, Google etc.shows u artificial "west" exchange rate for what no Barclays,NatWest etc. branch is going to give u some BYN, u only get 3.039 from MC&Visa @ BY ATM, the only explanation to this riddle are around 3M BY Gastarbeitern in EU,US & Russia remittenting to 9M4 back home
We don't work in lb here though.
1lb = 450g.
250g butter in Aldi is £1.99 which is around £7.96/kg which is around £3.58/lb.
So Belarus is still expensive considering income.