Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Sumy Cost of Living Comparison Between Kyiv and Sumy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $977 in Kyiv versus $713 in Sumy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,498 in Kyiv versus $1,068 in Sumy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,018 in Kyiv versus $1,423 in Sumy.

Living in Kyiv is roughly 37% more expensive than in Sumy, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kyiv 27% lower, Sumy 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.44 ₴377
$7.28 ₴325
15.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.48 ₴1,407
$14.63 ₴654
115.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.18 ₴276
$5.95 ₴266
3.87%
Cappuccino
$1.61 ₴72.1
$1.00 ₴44.62
61.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₴27.63
$0.62 ₴27.72
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₴20.50
$0.43 ₴19.19
6.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.10 ₴49.29
$0.84 ₴37.51
30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₴85.5
$1.11 ₴49.45
72.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.24 ₴55.6
$1.09 ₴48.82
13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 ₴35.98
$0.81 ₴36.31
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 ₴80.7
$1.80 ₴80.3
0.56%
Eggs
$2.05 ₴91.5
$2.03 ₴90.8
0.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 ₴445
$9.67 ₴432
3.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.43 ₴198
$4.36 ₴195
1.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.81 ₴349
$7.87 ₴352
-0.76%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 ₴43.38
$0.96 ₴42.70
1.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₴68.7
$1.44 ₴64.2
6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 ₴83.3
$1.81 ₴81.0
2.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 ₴99.6
$2.22 ₴99.4
0.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ₴38.06
$0.50 ₴22.50
70.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₴24.82
$0.56 ₴24.89
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 ₴61.3
$1.35 ₴60.3
1.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ₴25.62
$0.58 ₴25.71
-1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 ₴127
$2.93 ₴131
-3.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.53 ₴247
$5.50 ₴246
0.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₴37.20
$0.85 ₴37.88
-2.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₴69.5
$1.58 ₴70.7
-1.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 ₴7.61
$0.35 ₴15.43
-51.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.40 ₴420
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 ₴92.9
$2.02 ₴90.5
2.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ₴16.80
$0.34 ₴15.38
11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 ₴198
$4.47 ₴200
-0.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₴64.3
$1.37 ₴61.4
5.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6K ₴1.4M
$31.2K ₴1.4M
1.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K ₴1.1M
$25.1K ₴1.1M
-2.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₴4,921
$110 ₴4,894
0.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.59 ₴250
$5.75 ₴257
-2.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.20 ₴322
$7.13 ₴319
0.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.87 ₴1,693
$28.61 ₴1,279
32.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.64 ₴744
$6.20 ₴277
168.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 ₴222
$2.83 ₴126
75.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$386 ₴17.2K
$381 ₴17.0K
1.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,654 ₴342.1K
$7,826 ₴349.8K
-2.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 ₴3,038
$48.39 ₴2,163
40.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.38 ₴1,581
$35.98 ₴1,608
-1.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ₴4,560
$101 ₴4,496
1.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 ₴5,137
$115 ₴5,157
-0.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$600 ₴26.8K
$226 ₴10.1K
165.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 ₴16.0K
$143 ₴6,378
150.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,284 ₴57.4K
$355 ₴15.9K
261.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 ₴27.6K
$215 ₴9,615
187.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,630 ₴117.5K
$1,294 ₴57.8K
103.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,119 ₴50.0K
$948 ₴42.3K
18.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyiv
Sumy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$763 ₴34.1K
$409 ₴18.3K
86.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.34
12
61.17%

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

Last update for Kyiv: July 25, 2026

Last update for Sumy: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $600 in Kyiv and $226 in Sumy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kyiv pays 87% 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: $31.00 in Kyiv vs $15.00 in Sumy for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $174 per month, with Sumy 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 Sumy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sumy cheaper than Kyiv?
Sumy is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kyiv or Sumy?
Average pay runs 87% 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 Sumy?
Rent for a central apartment: $600 in Kyiv versus $226 in Sumy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $386 in Kyiv versus $381 in Sumy. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Kyiv or in Sumy?
Dining out is cheaper in Sumy – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $31.00 in Kyiv. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Kyiv or in Sumy?
At $713 in Sumy versus $977 in Kyiv, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sumy but tight or insufficient in Kyiv. The gap between the two cities makes Sumy the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kyiv or Sumy more family-friendly?
For families, Sumy 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sumy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Kyiv. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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