In Kyiv, Lviv, and Uzhhorod, it will take about ten years to save for a home
Analysts have evaluated housing affordability for young Ukrainians by comparing median wages with rental costs and real estate prices. As of July 2026, western regions have become the most expensive for renting, while southern and eastern cities proved to be the most affordable. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Василина Копитко) citing OLX Real Estate, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The calculations are based on the median salary offered to young professionals or students. In July 2026, this figure was 29,306 hryvnias. Housing expenses vary significantly across regions, directly affecting the ability of citizens to save for their own apartment.
The highest budget burden was recorded in Uzhhorod and Lviv, where renting a one-room apartment requires over 76% of monthly income. Kyiv holds the fourth position on this list with a 58% share. In Ivano-Frankivsk, tenants pay about 60% of their earnings, while in Chernivtsi, Lutsk, and Ternopil, this figure approaches 50%.
Rental cost differences by region
The situation is completely different in the south and east of the country, where rental housing is most affordable for young people. In Kherson, housing expenses account for only 14% of salary, in Sumy — 22%, and in Mykolaiv — 23.2%. Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv show figures of 24% and 26% respectively. Rental costs between the leaders and outsiders by this criterion differ by nearly six times.
In addition to rental expenses, experts analyzed the notional time required to accumulate funds for purchasing one’s own housing. The calculations assume that a young person saves their entire income without considering other living costs, inflationary processes, or real estate market price fluctuations.
Prospects for own housing
The situation remains most difficult in Kyiv, Lviv, and Uzhhorod, where saving for an apartment will take about 10 years. In Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi, this period is estimated at 8 years. Average figures within 6-7 years are observed in Odesa, Lutsk, Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Ternopil.
According to the notional timeframe, saving for the first own home is fastest in frontline and affected regions. In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, it takes about two years, while in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Mykolaiv — three years. The overall gap in housing affordability between various Ukrainian cities reaches a fivefold difference even under equal wage conditions.
Photo: RBC-Ukraine
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