In which cities is it better to buy housing, and in which is it better to rent

Rental prices and the purchase of housing in Ukrainian cities differ significantly, so for some Ukrainians, renting becomes a long-term strategy, while for others, investing in their own apartment seems like a logical step, according to a study by OLX Real Estate.

OLX Real Estate analysts compared the median cost of renting one-bedroom apartments with the prices for purchasing them on the secondary market. They evaluated how many years it would take for the total rent payments to equal the cost of the housing. On average, in large cities, this is 12–14 years, but the gap between regions is noticeable: in some places, buying pays off in just 9–12 years, while in others, even after 15–17 years, renting seems more practical.

Renting housing: in which cities is it more profitable to buy

The fastest payback is recorded where purchase prices are not too detached from rental values. According to OLX:

• Dnipro – rent 10,500 UAH, purchase 1,125,625 UAH, payback 9 years
• Zaporizhzhia – 5,000 UAH, 624,153 UAH, 11 years
• Lviv – 18,000 UAH, 2,270,202 UAH, 11 years
• Uzhhorod – 18,723 UAH, 2,486,918 UAH, 12 years.

In Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa, the situation is different: the cost of purchasing is significantly higher, so the payback period is slower. In Kharkiv and Odesa, it is about 15 years, while in the capital it reaches 17 years. In such cities, renting is often more advantageous in the short and medium term.

Apartment Payback: How to Decide Between Renting and Buying

Experts emphasize that the arithmetic of payback is not the only factor. It is important to consider the planned duration of residence, the security situation, income stability, and the state of the local market. If a person is not sure they will stay in the city for more than 10 years, renting offers more flexibility. For those who see themselves in one city for 12–15 years and have savings or access to a mortgage, purchasing becomes a logical step.

Previously, we wrote that the increase in migration in Ukraine leads to a rise in conflicts between owners and renters, particularly regarding property rights.