Hi, Barney. Here's some info about living in Sumy:
if you want to rent an appartment, the prices on that you can find here (shansplus.com.ua/index.php?id=108) and if you want to buy a new one, check out these adds (shansplus.com.ua/index.php?id=101). Roughly 100-150 USD will be enough to pay monthly bills during the winter season, and something like 50-70 USD during the summer.
Sumy is definitely not the worst place to live in. It's not a very big developing Ukrainian city, quiet and diverse. But to get a well-paid job here is not an easy thing for the average person. And that's the reason why youth puts its mind on any place abroad.
We have dozens of nightclubs, lots of shops, markets, good transportation system (small buses, route-taxis or, as people call it here, "marshrutkas") and good quality tape water. Still, prices are too high comparing to what people earn here.
You may find some English-speaking people from the US here, most of them are volunteers or members of some kinds of strange churches. Starting on Sept, 1st there supposed to be held English discussion club at Krupskaya Library downtown twice a week. If you want to study a little Russian, it's not a problem to find an experienced teacher of Russian in Sumy. We have many foreign students from around the world at Sumy State University, and that's where you might find a teacher for you.
In case you have any more questions, you can reach me at lublusumdu@mail.ru
Good luck and have a great day!
PS. Make sure the woman you are dating has serious intentions. One American guy, my friend, got scammed by a woman with name Valentina. He presented to her lots and lots of expensive presents and she was taking super-high rent from him, never let him to her bed and overall attitude was just not good at all.