Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Lviv Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Lviv

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,036 in Kyiv versus $1,048 in Lviv.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Kyiv versus $1,581 in Lviv.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,174 in Kyiv versus $2,113 in Lviv.

Living in Kyiv costs roughly 1% less than in Lviv, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kyiv 25% lower, Lviv 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.16 ₴497
$6.84 ₴304
63.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.29 ₴1,482
$36.16 ₴1,610
-7.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.76 ₴301
$6.85 ₴305
-1.31%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ₴73.9
$2.15 ₴95.5
-22.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₴34.97
$1.26 ₴56.2
-37.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₴24.38
$1.32 ₴58.8
-58.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 ₴58.9
$2.48 ₴110
-46.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 ₴89.4
$3.08 ₴137
-34.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₴57.7
$1.23 ₴54.9
4.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₴39.78
$0.85 ₴38.03
4.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 ₴65.9
$1.75 ₴78.1
-15.43%
Eggs
$2.14 ₴95.2
$2.15 ₴95.8
-0.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 ₴444
$9.01 ₴401
10.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.27 ₴235
$4.74 ₴211
11.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.85 ₴394
$7.82 ₴348
13.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 ₴53.1
$1.35 ₴59.9
-11.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 ₴71.2
$1.65 ₴73.4
-3.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 ₴82.7
$1.84 ₴81.7
1.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 ₴121
$2.72 ₴121
0.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 ₴27.95
$0.80 ₴35.54
-21.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.45 ₴20.18
$0.52 ₴23.04
-13.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₴63.1
$1.35 ₴60.0
5.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₴29.84
$0.52 ₴23.28
28.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43 ₴153
$3.07 ₴137
11.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.65 ₴251
$6.34 ₴282
-10.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₴42.30
$0.93 ₴41.45
2.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₴64.1
$1.52 ₴67.8
-5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ₴17.06
$0.58 ₴25.69
-34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.05 ₴492
$20.30 ₴904
-45.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.23 ₴99.4
$2.99 ₴133
-25.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ₴21.00
$0.32 ₴14.43
46.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 ₴197
$4.36 ₴194
1.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 ₴73.7
$1.62 ₴72.3
2.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K ₴1.3M
$30.0K ₴1.3M
-2.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ₴1.2M
$25.5K ₴1.1M
3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.3 ₴4,287
$86.5 ₴3,853
11.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.00 ₴312
$6.09 ₴271
14.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.58 ₴293
$7.51 ₴334
-12.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.79 ₴1,638
$31.71 ₴1,412
16.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.71 ₴788
$14.24 ₴634
24.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ₴256
$4.80 ₴214
19.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 ₴18.1K
$333 ₴14.8K
21.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ₴662.9K
$7,191 ₴320.2K
107.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2 ₴3,216
$83.1 ₴3,698
-13.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.42 ₴1,800
$43.94 ₴1,957
-8.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.8 ₴4,131
$98.3 ₴4,378
-5.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ₴5,107
$101 ₴4,500
13.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$642 ₴28.6K
$507 ₴22.6K
26.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 ₴16.0K
$417 ₴18.6K
-13.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,370 ₴61.0K
$933 ₴41.5K
46.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 ₴28.8K
$614 ₴27.3K
5.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,684 ₴119.5K
$2,046 ₴91.1K
31.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,149 ₴51.2K
$1,268 ₴56.5K
-9.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyiv
Lviv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$815 ₴36.3K
$646 ₴28.8K
26.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.25
13.33
36.91%

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

Last update for Kyiv: September 1, 2026

Last update for Lviv: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $642 in Kyiv and $507 in Lviv. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kyiv pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Kyiv vs $36.00 in Lviv. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $184, with Lviv cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lviv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lviv cheaper than Kyiv?
Kyiv is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kyiv or Lviv?
Average pay runs 26% higher in Kyiv, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kyiv and Lviv?
Rent for a central apartment: $642 in Kyiv versus $507 in Lviv. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kyiv and in Lviv?
Shoppers in Lviv pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Kyiv or in Lviv?
Dining out is cheaper in Kyiv – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $36.00 in Lviv. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kyiv or in Lviv?
At $1,036 in Kyiv versus $1,048 in Lviv, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kyiv but tight or insufficient in Lviv. The gap between the two cities makes Kyiv the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kyiv or Lviv more family-friendly?
For families, Kyiv is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lviv, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kyiv or Lviv?
Safety-wise, Kyiv and Lviv are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kyiv gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Lviv. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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