Renting an apartment in Ukraine along with utility services can take more than half of the monthly income. In the example of a single person's budget, only 3900 UAH is left after all mandatory expenses. This is reported by Politeka referencing calculations from Concord Fintech.
Renting an apartment in Ukraine: how much salary is taken by housing in 2026
The calculation used a net monthly income of 24,550 UAH. The rent for a one-room apartment in a regional center, along with utility services, is estimated at about 14,000 UAH. This is approximately 57% of the indicated salary.
After paying for the housing itself, 10,550 UAH remains. This amount needs to cover food, transportation, communication, and other daily necessities. The total mandatory expenses in the model amount to 20,650 UAH, leaving a free balance reduced to 3900 UAH.
Thus, basic payments take approximately 84% of income, while about 16% is left for savings or unexpected purchases. At the same time, this is the result of a specific calculation rather than a universal budget for all Ukrainians.
The actual burden depends on the city, salary, condition of the apartment, and the season. In particular, the cost of renting in Kyiv significantly differs even between neighborhoods. Sharing also changes the calculation, as housing costs are divided among several people.
Housing expenses: what comparison with other countries shows
In the Polish example, mandatory monthly expenses amount to 3575 zlotys, with the remaining income after them being 2525 zlotys. Together, this implies an income of 6100 zlotys: about 59% goes to basic payments, leaving approximately 41% free.
Thus, the difference with the Ukrainian example lies not only in the amounts but also in the share of funds a person can dispose of after necessary payments. Meanwhile, the mentioned Polish figures do not confirm the assertion that all basic needs in Europe take only 15-20% of income.
For the Czech Republic, the publication indicates a free balance of around 568 euros, and for Turkey, approximately 434 euros. Without a complete list of expenses, cities, and housing characteristics, these amounts should be treated as separate examples rather than a ready ranking of the advantages of relocation.
Before renting, it is important to clarify the full monthly cost of living. The contract should fix who pays for utilities, how the rent changes, who is responsible for repairs, and under what conditions the deposit is returned. The deposit and any potential commission should be accounted for separately in the moving budget.
When evaluating housing rental expenses, it is worth counting the remainder specifically from the take-home salary. An apartment that can be formally paid for may turn out to be too expensive if, after mandatory payments, there are not enough funds for medicine, clothing, or a financial reserve.