In Brief — numbers that shift the balance
As of early January 2026, the highest rents for one-bedroom apartments in Ukraine were recorded in Uzhhorod — about 21,300 UAH/month, according to data from the LUN platform. For comparison: Lviv — 17,600 UAH, Kyiv — 17,000 UAH.
"As of early January 2026, the highest housing rental prices in Ukraine were recorded in Uzhhorod"
— LUN
Why prices in Uzhhorod have surged
Briefly: demand for housing in Uzhhorod has risen faster than supply. The reasons are a combination of perceived safety, internal migration and a limited number of attractive apartments in central areas.
According to the Association of Real Estate Specialists (AFNU), recent attacks on other regions have triggered a new wave of relocations to western cities. Those moving to Uzhhorod include not only displaced people from the east and south, but also some residents of Kyiv who are tired of regular shelling and power outages.
What’s happening in Kyiv
In the capital, the rental market shows the opposite dynamic — population outflow has led to falling prices. Calculations show the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Kyiv fell by 20% — from 20,000 UAH in August to 17,000 UAH. Two-bedroom apartments dropped from 29,000 to 23,000 UAH.
"Even apartments that have steady demand, including housing in new developments, fell in price by 10% in a month"
— Oksana Kovtun, head of the Kyiv branch of AFNU
Supply can't keep up with demand
Even despite revived construction since February 2022, the number of new apartments in Uzhhorod (approximately 8,100) is significantly lower than in Lviv (21,600) or Kyiv (16,500), according to LUN. Limited supply is especially felt in central districts, where demand is highest.
What this means for renters and the city
For displaced people and those seeking safer conditions, rising prices mean higher costs or the need to look for housing further from the center. For property owners — an opportunity to raise rates, but also a risk of social tension if prices spike sharply.
For the local economy — both an opportunity and a challenge: higher rental income can support service infrastructure, but in the long term it will require attention from local authorities and investors to expand the supply of quality housing.
Short forecast
The price gap between Uzhhorod and Kyiv has been around 30% since December. If the flow of displaced people and residents from large cities does not slow and construction does not accelerate supply in central areas, pressure on prices will remain. Analysts and realtors agree: without planned investments in affordable housing and infrastructure, the region risks a destabilizing imbalance that could harm social stability.
A question for local and national authorities: how to ensure that the security advantage does not turn into an economic burden for residents — the answer will shape the future of Ukraine’s western regions.
Sources: LUN, AFNU, LIGA.net, Real Estate Agency "Fortetsia".
