Cost of Living Comparison Between Poltava and KyivCost of Living Comparison Between Poltava and Kyiv
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Poltava versus $975 in Kyiv.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,012 in Poltava versus $1,507 in Kyiv.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,374 in Poltava versus $2,038 in Kyiv.
🙂Living in Poltava costs roughly 33% less than in Kyiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Poltava51% lower, Kyiv27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74₴253
$8.57₴378
-33.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97₴1,057
$31.96₴1,408
-25.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67₴206
$6.00₴265
-22.17%
Cappuccino
$1.29₴56.9
$1.61₴71.1
-19.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₴28.07
$0.63₴27.84
1.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₴20.19
$0.43₴18.89
6.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.88₴38.86
$1.11₴48.86
-20.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64₴72.3
$1.81₴79.9
-9.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02₴44.82
$1.25₴55.3
-18.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66₴29.14
$0.77₴34.08
-14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28₴56.6
$1.91₴84.2
-32.98%
Eggs
$1.71₴75.4
$1.96₴86.6
-12.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.22₴362
$9.66₴426
-14.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78₴167
$4.44₴196
-14.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.31₴234
$7.99₴352
-33.54%
Apples(1kg)
$0.78₴34.23
$0.97₴42.81
-19.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20₴53.0
$1.57₴69.2
-23.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27₴56.2
$1.83₴80.7
-30.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54₴67.9
$2.27₴100.0
-32.16%
Potato(1kg)
$0.40₴17.59
$0.80₴35.36
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55₴24.24
$0.55₴24.35
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66₴28.89
$1.43₴63.0
-53.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59₴25.81
$0.59₴25.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04₴89.9
$2.88₴127
-29.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.13₴226
$5.79₴255
-11.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₴39.25
$0.83₴36.64
7.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60₴70.3
$1.54₴67.7
3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25₴11.06
$0.19₴8.42
31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.29₴630
$9.83₴433
45.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.98₴87.4
$2.07₴91.2
-4.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18₴7.87
$0.35₴15.32
-48.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.48₴197
$4.27₴188
4.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31₴57.6
$1.39₴61.2
-5.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K₴1.2M
$31.8K₴1.4M
-14.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K₴894.2K
$25.0K₴1.1M
-18.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.5₴4,122
$111₴4,885
-15.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.54₴200
$5.81₴256
-21.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.82₴212
$7.11₴313
-32.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.63₴601
$37.90₴1,670
-64.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.32₴411
$16.29₴718
-42.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.73₴209
$4.70₴207
0.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₴11.9K
$386₴17.0K
-30.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,611₴335.4K
$7,702₴339.4K
-1.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8₴3,078
$68.3₴3,008
2.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.97₴1,145
$35.66₴1,571
-27.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.4₴3,411
$101₴4,466
-23.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3₴3,669
$115₴5,061
-27.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261₴11.5K
$598₴26.3K
-56.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158₴6,960
$349₴15.4K
-54.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435₴19.2K
$1,300₴57.3K
-66.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$319₴14.1K
$621₴27.4K
-48.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$904₴39.8K
$2,691₴118.6K
-66.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,097₴48.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Poltava
Kyiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$445₴19.6K
$738₴32.5K
-39.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.5
19.34
-9.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Poltava: April 25, 2026
Last update for Kyiv: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Poltava and $598 in Kyiv. 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: $24.00 in Poltava vs $32.00 in Kyiv for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $142 vs $179 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
Poltava vs Kyiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kyiv cheaper than Poltava?
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: Poltava or Kyiv?
On paper, Kyiv earns 66% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Poltava and Kyiv?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Poltava versus $598 in Kyiv. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Poltava and Kyiv?
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 Poltava or Kyiv?
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 Poltava or Kyiv?
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 Poltava or Kyiv 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, Poltava or Kyiv?
Safety-wise, Poltava and Kyiv 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.