The demand for housing rentals in Kharkiv sharply increased before the start of the academic year, while in Kyiv the number of inquiries decreased. At the same time, apartments became more expensive in most large cities, but the price dynamics differ significantly. Forbes Ukraine reports on this.
Demand for rentals in Kharkiv rose by 72% in August 2026
The number of inquiries for room rental ads in Kharkiv increased by 72% over the year, while studio apartments saw a 61% increase. This is the most noticeable growth among large university cities, despite proximity to the front line and regular shelling.
In Dnipro, inquiries for two-room apartments increased by 38%. In the western cities, the most significant revival was noted in Uzhhorod: the demand for rooms increased by 45%, and for studio apartments - by 30%.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, inquiries for rooms increased by 42%, and for studio apartments - by 54%. In Lviv, the corresponding indicators increased by 30% and 25%.
Kyiv is moving in the opposite direction. The number of inquiries for rooms decreased by 28%, and for studio apartments - by 15%. Earlier, the average rent for an apartment in Kyiv was 19,200 UAH, although prices varied significantly depending on the district.
The traditional student season explains only part of the changes. In August-September, the number of inquiries usually rises by about 30% compared to the end of spring and the beginning of summer. At the same time, remote and hybrid learning reduce the need for students to live near the university.
«The COVID-19 pandemic initiated a trend toward remote learning, which the war has intensified,» explained Nina Tarasenko, founder of Nina Tarasenko Real Estate Consulting.
Apartment rentals in Kharkiv have risen by 86%
The market is also affected by family relocations, school choices, corporate rotations, and internal migration before the heating season. In Kharkiv, the demand for safer housing within the city and region has noticeably increased.
The median cost of a room in Kharkiv increased by 30% - to 3,000 UAH per month. A studio apartment rose by 60% to 8,000 UAH, while a two-room apartment increased by 86% to 13,000 UAH.
This increase is not linked to a student boom. There are 99,000 students enrolled in higher education institutions in the Kharkiv region, which is 6% less than last year. Thus, the prices are driven by seasonality, migration, and changing safety requirements for housing.
In western Ukraine, rates remain significantly higher. A studio apartment in Lviv cost 23,000 UAH, in Ivano-Frankivsk - 17,921 UAH, and in Uzhhorod - 25,951 UAH. For young renters, housing in Uzhhorod and Lviv already takes up up to 76% of their salaries.
In Kyiv, a studio apartment remains at 17,000 UAH, while a room cost 4,500 UAH. Two-room apartments decreased by 11% to 26,803 UAH.
The market is increasingly less responsive solely to proximity to the university. Renters primarily evaluate the condition of the apartment, appliances, price, and safety, and only then location. Earlier this year, Kharkiv region had the lowest prices, but the jump in August showed how quickly the shortage of quality offerings changes rates.