Rent “eats up” Ukrainians’ salaries: in which cities has housing become the most expensive and why IDPs find themselves below the poverty line

The cost of renting housing in Ukraine continues to grow rapidly, especially in the western regions, which have become the main destination for internally displaced persons after the start of the full-scale war. In some cities, renting a one-room apartment already takes up to 75% of the average salary, and thousands of families are forced to save even on the most necessary things.

Western Ukraine has become a leader in rising prices

According to the head of LUN Statistics Lyudmila Kiryukhina, the cost of renting housing has increased the most in the western regions of the country over the past year.

In particular:

Lviv – an increase of 29%, the median cost of renting a one-room apartment is 22,500 UAH;

Ivano-Frankivsk – +22%, to 18,000 UAH;

Uzhhorod – +19%, to 22,500 UAH.

For comparison, in Kyiv, the median cost of renting has increased by only 6% over the same period.

As the expert explains, in the capital, due to the security situation, demand temporarily decreased in the winter, and in the spring there was even a local decrease in the price of housing. At the same time, demand remained consistently high in the western regions due to the constant influx of people.

Rent takes up most of the salary

According to Lyudmila Kiryukhina, current prices create a critical burden on the budgets of Ukrainian families.

In Lviv, Uzhhorod and Ivano-Frankivsk, the rent for a one-room apartment already amounts to approximately 66–75% of the average local salary.

This means that after paying for housing, people often do not have enough money for utilities, food, transport, medical expenses and other basic needs.

IDPs suffer the most

The problem is especially acute for internally displaced persons.

According to Anastasia Bobrova, director of the Cedos research center:

68% of IDPs rent housing;

Among Ukrainians who did not change their place of residence after February 24, 2022, only 8% are tenants.

At the same time, in 2024, 43% of respondents reported that they spend more than a third of their income on housing.

In 2025, the situation for low-income families remained critical:

16% of low-income families rent out more than half of their family budget;
38% are forced to save on food;
42% on clothing.
The market remains under pressure

Experts note that the main reason for high prices remains significant demand in relatively safe regions of Ukraine. It is the western regions that continue to receive the largest number of displaced persons, while the supply of affordable housing does not keep up with needs.

As a result, more and more Ukrainian families spend most of their income on housing alone, which increases the risks of housing poverty and forces people to forgo other necessary expenses.