Rent is “eating up” as much as 83% of salaries: which Ukrainian cities have become the most expensive to live in

The cost of long-term rent for a one-room apartment in Ukraine varies significantly by city and, in some regional centers, reaches more than 80% of the median salary.

This was reported by media citing data from OLX Real Estate.

Residents of western regions spend the most on housing, while in frontline cities rent remains relatively affordable.

Uzhhorod has the highest share of salary going to rent for a one-room apartment — 83%. The median rent there is 19.6 thousand hryvnias (≈ €447), the highest among regional centers.

Cities with the most expensive housing also include:

• Lviv — 72% of income, median rent 18,000 UAH (≈ €410);

• Kyiv — 68% of salary, rent 16,000 UAH (≈ €365);

• Ivano-Frankivsk — 64% of income, 14,700 UAH (≈ €335).

In a number of regional centers, renting a one-room apartment takes more than half of income. In particular:

• Vinnytsia — 60%, 12,000 UAH (≈ €274);

• Lutsk — 56%, 14,000 UAH (≈ €319);

• Rivne — 55%, 11,000 UAH (≈ €251);

• Poltava — 53%, 10,000 UAH (≈ €228);

• Zhytomyr and Chernivtsi — 50% each (10,000 UAH (≈ €228) and 11,300 UAH (≈ €258) respectively).

Spending 30–50% of income on rent is common in these cities:

• Cherkasy — 48%, 10,000 UAH (≈ €228);

• Khmelnytskyi — 44%, 10,000 UAH (≈ €228);

• Dnipro — 44%, 10,000 UAH (≈ €228);

• Kropyvnytskyi — 43%, 8,000 UAH (≈ €182);

• Chernihiv — 37%, 6,500 UAH (≈ €148);

• Sumy — 34%, 6,000 UAH (≈ €137).

The lowest rent burdens were recorded in cities near the combat zone. In particular:

• Zaporizhzhia — 29% of income, 5,500 UAH (≈ €125);

• Kharkiv — 25%, 5,000 UAH (≈ €114);

• Kherson — only 15% of the median salary, rent 3,700 UAH (≈ €84).