Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and PoltavaCost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Poltava
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $975 in Kyiv versus $650 in Poltava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,507 in Kyiv versus $1,012 in Poltava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,038 in Kyiv versus $1,374 in Poltava.
😐Living in Kyiv is roughly 50% more expensive than Poltava, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kyiv27% lower, Poltava51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.57₴378
$5.74₴253
49.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.96₴1,408
$23.97₴1,057
33.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.00₴265
$4.67₴206
28.48%
Cappuccino
$1.61₴71.1
$1.29₴56.9
24.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63₴27.84
$0.64₴28.07
-1.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43₴18.89
$0.46₴20.19
-6.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.11₴48.86
$0.88₴38.86
26.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81₴79.9
$1.64₴72.3
10.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25₴55.3
$1.02₴44.82
22.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.77₴34.08
$0.66₴29.14
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91₴84.2
$1.28₴56.6
49.22%
Eggs
$1.96₴86.6
$1.71₴75.4
14.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.66₴426
$8.22₴362
17.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.44₴196
$3.78₴167
17.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.99₴352
$5.31₴234
50.47%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97₴42.81
$0.78₴34.23
24.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57₴69.2
$1.20₴53.0
30.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83₴80.7
$1.27₴56.2
44.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27₴100.0
$1.54₴67.9
47.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80₴35.36
$0.40₴17.59
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55₴24.35
$0.55₴24.24
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43₴63.0
$0.66₴28.89
116.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59₴25.91
$0.59₴25.81
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88₴127
$2.04₴89.9
41.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79₴255
$5.13₴226
12.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₴36.64
$0.89₴39.25
-6.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54₴67.7
$1.60₴70.3
-3.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19₴8.42
$0.25₴11.06
-24.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.83₴433
$14.29₴630
-31.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.07₴91.2
$1.98₴87.4
4.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35₴15.32
$0.18₴7.87
94.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.27₴188
$4.48₴197
-4.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39₴61.2
$1.31₴57.6
6.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K₴1.4M
$27.1K₴1.2M
17.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K₴1.1M
$20.3K₴894.2K
23.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₴4,885
$93.5₴4,122
18.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.81₴256
$4.54₴200
27.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.11₴313
$4.82₴212
47.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.90₴1,670
$13.63₴601
178.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₴718
$9.32₴411
74.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70₴207
$4.73₴209
-0.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$386₴17.0K
$269₴11.9K
43.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,702₴339.4K
$7,611₴335.4K
1.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3₴3,008
$69.8₴3,078
-2.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.66₴1,571
$25.97₴1,145
37.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101₴4,466
$77.4₴3,411
30.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115₴5,061
$83.3₴3,669
37.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598₴26.3K
$261₴11.5K
128.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349₴15.4K
$158₴6,960
120.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,300₴57.3K
$435₴19.2K
198.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621₴27.4K
$319₴14.1K
94.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,691₴118.6K
$904₴39.8K
197.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,097₴48.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyiv
Poltava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$738₴32.5K
$445₴19.6K
65.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.34
17.5
10.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kyiv: April 26, 2026
Last update for Poltava: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $598 in Kyiv and $261 in Poltava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kyiv pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Kyiv vs $24.00 in Poltava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $142 per month, with Poltava cheaper across the board.
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 Poltava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Poltava cheaper than Kyiv?
Poltava is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kyiv or Poltava?
Kyiv pays 66% more on average, 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 Poltava?
Rent for a central apartment: $598 in Kyiv versus $261 in Poltava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Kyiv and Poltava?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Kyiv. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Kyiv or Poltava?
Dining out is cheaper in Poltava – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $32.00 in Kyiv. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Kyiv or Poltava?
At $650 in Poltava versus $975 in Kyiv, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Poltava but tight or insufficient in Kyiv. The gap between the two cities makes Poltava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kyiv or Poltava more family-friendly?
For families, Poltava is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kyiv, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kyiv or Poltava?
Safety-wise, Kyiv and Poltava 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 Poltava gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Kyiv. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.