Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Kharkiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Kharkiv

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $990 per month in Kyiv vs $690 in Kharkiv, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,494 per month in Kyiv vs $1,069 in Kharkiv, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Kyiv vs $1,448 in Kharkiv, rent included.

Kyiv costs about 44% more than Kharkiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kyiv and Kharkiv are more affordable than the global median – Kyiv 26% lower, Kharkiv 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58 ₴380
$7.36 ₴326
16.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.03 ₴1,376
$27.16 ₴1,204
14.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.14 ₴272
$6.15 ₴273
-0.16%
Cappuccino
$1.56 ₴69.3
$1.35 ₴59.7
15.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₴30.10
$0.61 ₴26.84
11.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₴18.54
$0.41 ₴18.08
2.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ₴47.76
$1.02 ₴45.37
5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 ₴85.0
$1.49 ₴66.3
28.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₴55.0
$1.10 ₴48.80
12.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 ₴36.75
$0.57 ₴25.32
45.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 ₴81.1
$1.24 ₴55.0
47.58%
Eggs
$2.05 ₴90.7
$1.55 ₴68.9
32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 ₴438
$7.98 ₴354
23.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.34 ₴192
$4.01 ₴178
8.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.91 ₴351
$6.72 ₴298
17.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 ₴45.48
$0.85 ₴37.60
21.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₴69.0
$1.62 ₴71.9
-3.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 ₴79.6
$1.85 ₴82.0
-3.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₴100
$2.25 ₴99.7
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 ₴38.22
$0.61 ₴27.19
40.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₴24.83
$0.56 ₴24.79
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 ₴63.4
$1.03 ₴45.73
38.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₴25.36
$0.54 ₴24.09
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 ₴132
$2.57 ₴114
15.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.81 ₴258
$4.52 ₴201
28.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₴36.94
$0.75 ₴33.45
10.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₴69.5
$1.25 ₴55.6
25.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 ₴7.22
$0.35 ₴15.48
-54.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.60 ₴426
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 ₴88.8
$1.43 ₴63.4
39.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₴15.52
$0.25 ₴11.13
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 ₴193
$2.84 ₴126
53.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ₴62.9
$1.34 ₴59.5
5.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₴1.4M
$26.8K ₴1.2M
14.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K ₴1.1M
$23.9K ₴1.1M
3.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 ₴4,946
$114 ₴5,066
-2.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59 ₴248
$5.60 ₴248
-0.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.16 ₴317
$6.05 ₴268
18.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.24 ₴1,652
$24.93 ₴1,106
49.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.34 ₴725
$15.88 ₴704
2.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.80 ₴213
$4.88 ₴217
-1.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$389 ₴17.3K
$350 ₴15.5K
11.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,847 ₴348.0K
$3,174 ₴140.8K
147.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6 ₴3,042
$56.0 ₴2,484
22.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.29 ₴1,609
$40.66 ₴1,803
-10.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₴4,565
$83.8 ₴3,716
22.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 ₴4,965
$105 ₴4,642
6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$599 ₴26.5K
$183 ₴8,095
227.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 ₴15.8K
$131 ₴5,831
171.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 ₴57.3K
$362 ₴16.1K
256.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 ₴27.4K
$241 ₴10.7K
156.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,609 ₴115.7K
$1,065 ₴47.2K
144.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,119 ₴49.6K
$592 ₴26.2K
89.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyiv
Kharkiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$770 ₴34.2K
$493 ₴21.8K
56.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.34
17
13.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kyiv: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kharkiv: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $599 in Kyiv versus $183 in Kharkiv. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 56% higher in Kyiv, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kyiv versus $27.00 in Kharkiv. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $154 – making Kharkiv the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Kyiv vs Kharkiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kyiv or Kharkiv?
Kyiv costs about 44% more than Kharkiv, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kyiv vs Kharkiv?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,485 per month in Kyiv and $1,035 in Kharkiv. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kyiv or Kharkiv?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kharkiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kyiv vs Kharkiv?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kyiv and $27.00 in Kharkiv. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kyiv or Kharkiv?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Kyiv, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kyiv or Kharkiv?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kharkiv, where all-in costs run around $690, than in Kyiv at $990. In Kharkiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kyiv it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kyiv or Kharkiv?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kharkiv costs $690 versus $990 in Kyiv. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Kyiv or Kharkiv?
If budget matters most, go with Kharkiv. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kyiv makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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