Christmas 2025: how much will a traditional Ukrainian holiday table cost this year?

Christmas is just around the corner, and most Ukrainian families are planning a festive table with 12 traditional vegetarian dishes. Find out how much a traditional Christmas basket will cost this year

More useful news on our Telegram channel

FOLLOW

In 2025, Ukrainian families planning to stick to the traditional Christmas menu of 12 lean dishes will spend approximately 1,374 hryvnia on their festive table. These calculations were prepared by researchers at the Institute of Agricultural Economics, analyzing average food prices in the country's supermarkets as of early December.

Despite difficult economic conditions and the war, the traditions of celebrating Christmas remain important to Ukrainians. Many families continue to prepare a full set of 12 dishes that symbolize prosperity, health, and family unity.

Year after year, the festive menu traditionally includes:

Kutia and uzvar

Fried fish

Vinaigrette

Vareniki with potatoes, cabbage, and cherries

Braised cabbage

Lenten borscht with beans

Fried potatoes

Fresh vegetables and pickles

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

The cost of 12 traditional dishes for Christmas 2025

1. Kutia (950 g) — 213.37 UAH

This dish is prepared according to a traditional recipe, the basis of which is hard wheat groats (26.9 UAH per 400 g). The main expenses are poppy seeds (72.5 UAH per 200 g), walnuts (68.8 UAH), raisins (24.99 UAH per 100 g), and honey (18.7 UAH per 100 g). Additionally, sugar is used for sweetness — 50 g will cost 1.48 UAH.

2. Uzvar (2 l) — 118 UAH

Dried apples, pears, and prunes (600 g per 2 l of water) are used to make uzvar. This is a traditional drink for the festive table, symbolizing family warmth and health.

3. Fried fish (2 kg of carp + ingredients) — 346.02 UAH

The most expensive dish on this year's table.

4. Lenten borscht with beans (2.5 kg of vegetables + spices) — 107.79 UAH

The main ingredient that determines the cost of the dish is dry white beans (51.5 UAH per 300 g).

5. Vinaigrette (1.73 kg) — 49.77 UAH

The cost is determined, in particular, by pickled cucumbers (26.8 UAH per 200 g).

6. Vareniki

With potatoes (1.51 kg) — 32.83 UAH

With cabbage (1.481 kg) — 32.03 UAH

With cherries (810 g) — 87.83 UAH (the main price is frozen cherries, 69.9 UAH per 300 g)

7. Braised cabbage — 70.78 UAH

The most expensive ingredient is mushrooms, 45.35 UAH.

8. Fried potatoes — 26.08 UAH

9. Pickles

Sauerkraut (500 g) — 96.75 UAH

Barrel cucumbers (400 g) — 53.7 UAH

10. Fresh vegetables

Cucumbers (500 g) — 66.72 UAH

Tomatoes (500 g) — 71.9 UAH

What influenced the final cost of the table?

The cost of the 2025 holiday basket has remained virtually unchanged compared to last year (1365 UAH). The reason for this is the record harvest of vegetables used in borscht: potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, and onions. As a result, prices for these products have fallen by more than half.

At the same time, some items have become significantly more expensive:

Oil — +26.7%

Frozen cherries — +25.7%

Barrel cucumbers — +25.2%

Dried white beans — +18.3%

Flour — +17.5%

Live fish — +12.6%

Fresh tomatoes — +12.5%

The calculation was prepared by the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics” based on daily monitoring by the Ministry of Finance of prices in Auchan, Megamarket, Metro, and Novus supermarkets as of December 4, 2025.

Reminder! The 2026 New Year holidays are just around the corner. How and where to spend the holidays in Ukraine in comfort, with a festive atmosphere and unforgettable emotions — we tell you here.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.