The Ukrainian real estate market is demonstrating significant transformation in the segment of long-term room rentals. According to an OLX Real Estate study published by RBC-Ukraine, there has been an uneven distribution of tenant interest across regions over the past year. While demand has skyrocketed in some oblasts, it has fallen significantly in others.
Growth Leaders: Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Frontline Regions
The Zaporizhzhia Oblast has become the absolute leader in the growth of interest in room rentals. Compared to the same period last year, the number of responses per listing here increased by 4.4 times. Analysts link this sharp surge to the need for temporary housing caused by population displacement, the presence of military personnel, and the general situation in frontline regions.
Similar dynamics are observed in other oblasts where demand also showed significant growth:
- Cherkasy Oblast: +38%
- Khmelnytskyi Oblast: +28%
- Chernivtsi Oblast: +26%
- Poltava Oblast: +24%
- Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: +20%
- Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast: +17%
- Lviv Oblast: +14%
- Kirovohrad Oblast: +9%
At the same time, the most significant drop in activity was recorded in Kherson Oblast: the number of responses to listings decreased sixfold compared to May 2025.
Price Geography: From Record 6,000 UAH to Affordable 1,500 UAH
Despite the growth in demand in eastern and southern regions, the western oblasts remain the most expensive for tenants. Zakarpattia Oblast leads in cost: the median price for renting a room in May 2026 reached 6,000 UAH per month, which is 20% higher than last year's figure. The price increase in the west is due to stable demand and relatively safe living conditions.
At the same time, a mid-range price segment has formed in a number of oblasts. The median cost of renting a room in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts was 4,000 UAH.
Housing proved to be more affordable in Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts, where the average price is 3,500 UAH.
An interesting fact is the situation in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv oblasts. Despite the explosive growth in demand (especially in Zaporizhzhia), renting here remains one of the most affordable — around 3,000 UAH per month. The cheapest rooms remain in Kherson Oblast, where the median price is only 1,500 UAH per month.
General Market Context
The study covers the long-term room rental market in all oblasts of Ukraine and is based on data from May 2026 compared to May 2025. Previously, RBC-Ukraine reported that the overall demand for housing rental in the country is growing, especially in frontline cities such as Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Sumy. At the same time, interest in renting has decreased in Kyiv and Odesa, while Lviv demonstrates stable growth.