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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Sumy versus $989 in Kyiv.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,069 in Sumy versus $1,501 in Kyiv.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,416 in Sumy versus $2,012 in Kyiv.

Living in Sumy costs roughly 27% less than in Kyiv, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sumy 46% lower, Kyiv 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13 ₴320
$8.65 ₴388
-17.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.33 ₴642
$30.81 ₴1,381
-53.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.00 ₴269
$6.08 ₴273
-1.32%
Cappuccino
$1.00 ₴44.91
$1.55 ₴69.6
-35.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₴27.97
$0.67 ₴30.09
-7.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₴20.48
$0.46 ₴20.46
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ₴38.81
$1.06 ₴47.54
-17.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₴49.82
$1.89 ₴84.9
-41.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ₴47.14
$1.26 ₴56.5
-16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 ₴34.22
$0.82 ₴36.83
-7.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 ₴80.7
$1.84 ₴82.6
-2.17%
Eggs
$2.06 ₴92.3
$1.99 ₴89.0
3.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 ₴448
$10.06 ₴451
-0.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 ₴202
$4.35 ₴195
3.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.76 ₴348
$7.69 ₴345
0.91%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 ₴43.57
$1.03 ₴46.08
-5.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 ₴66.1
$1.61 ₴72.1
-8.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 ₴79.3
$1.77 ₴79.6
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₴102
$2.25 ₴101
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.50 ₴22.31
$0.88 ₴39.28
-43.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 ₴26.46
$0.59 ₴26.62
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 ₴62.5
$1.43 ₴64.1
-2.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₴24.31
$0.57 ₴25.70
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₴127
$2.91 ₴131
-2.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.61 ₴251
$5.54 ₴248
1.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₴39.50
$0.90 ₴40.56
-2.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₴71.5
$1.55 ₴69.7
3.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₴15.49
$0.18 ₴7.90
94.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.43 ₴423
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 ₴94.6
$2.11 ₴94.4
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ₴16.88
$0.35 ₴15.52
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.29 ₴192
$4.41 ₴198
-2.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₴58.6
$1.41 ₴63.3
-7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₴1.4M
$30.7K ₴1.4M
-0.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K ₴1.1M
$24.7K ₴1.1M
0.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 ₴4,856
$111 ₴4,977
-2.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.67 ₴254
$5.78 ₴259
-1.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.06 ₴316
$6.83 ₴306
3.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.69 ₴1,286
$37.04 ₴1,660
-22.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.17 ₴277
$16.18 ₴725
-61.87%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 ₴128
$4.96 ₴222
-42.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$375 ₴16.8K
$385 ₴17.2K
-2.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,887 ₴353.5K
$7,619 ₴341.5K
3.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.71 ₴2,183
$69.1 ₴3,098
-29.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.02 ₴1,614
$35.19 ₴1,577
2.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 ₴4,502
$103 ₴4,637
-2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 ₴5,117
$114 ₴5,102
0.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$228 ₴10.2K
$592 ₴26.5K
-61.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 ₴6,590
$349 ₴15.6K
-57.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$347 ₴15.6K
$1,285 ₴57.6K
-72.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 ₴9,556
$625 ₴28.0K
-65.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$889 ₴39.8K
$2,622 ₴117.5K
-66.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$536 ₴24.0K
$1,143 ₴51.2K
-53.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sumy
Kyiv
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$400 ₴17.9K
$757 ₴33.9K
-47.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
19.34
-37.95%

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

Last update for Sumy: June 13, 2026

Last update for Kyiv: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in Sumy and $592 in Kyiv. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kyiv pays 89% 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: $14.00 in Sumy vs $31.00 in Kyiv for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $179 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
Sumy vs Kyiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kyiv cheaper than Sumy?
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: Sumy or Kyiv?
On paper, Kyiv earns 89% 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 Sumy and Kyiv?
Rent for a central apartment: $228 in Sumy versus $592 in Kyiv. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $375 in Sumy versus $385 in Kyiv. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Sumy or Kyiv?
Dining out is cheaper in Sumy – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Sumy or Kyiv?
At $723 in Sumy versus $989 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 Sumy or Kyiv 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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