---
title: "Safety and the Dollar Rate: Why Ukrainians are Fleeing to the West and How It Affects the Housing Market"
description: "War and the dollar rate are changing the Ukrainian real estate market: residents of Kyiv and Kharkiv are massively considering moving to the West. Experts predict a price increase due to the rising cost of building materials and demand for safe locations. 🏠📉🇺🇦"
date: 2026-07-23T09:26:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/safety-and-dollar-rate-ukraine-housing-market-western-regions
tags: [ukraine, real-estate, gazda, marianna-bigunets, kyiv]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Safety and the Dollar Rate: Why Ukrainians are Fleeing to the West and How It Affects the Housing Market

![Modern high-rise residential complexes against a forest backdrop, illustrating the real estate market and migration of Ukrainians to the West](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/23/rynok-nedvizhimosti-ukrainy-2024-bezopasnost-i-kurs-dollara/rynok-nedvizhimosti-ukrainy-2024-bezopasnost-i-kurs-dollara-1.webp)

Autumn in Ukraine could become a turning point for the real estate market. A combination of factors — from intensified missile and drone attacks to the volatility of the national currency — could activate buyers and provoke a price increase in the primary market. Experts from the construction company Gazda predict that in the coming months, demand will shift towards the western regions, where the level of safety is higher.

### Emotional Reaction to the War

Systematic attacks on cities in the east, south, center, and even Kyiv are forcing residents to reconsider their life plans. Marianna Bigunets, Commercial Director of Gazda, notes that since the beginning of summer, the structure of inquiries to the company has changed radically. Now, 30–40% of requests to purchase housing in safe regions come from residents of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

According to the expert, at this stage, this is more of an emotional reaction to shelling than a formed sustainable trend. However, prolonged uncertainty forces people with financial means to seriously consider moving. Western regions are becoming attractive both for permanent residence and as a reserve option due to the lower frequency of attacks and proximity to the border.

### Currency Factor and Cost Price

In addition to safety issues, the economy influences buyer behavior. Analysts are considering a scenario where the dollar rate could approach the 46.5–47 hryvnia mark. A weakening of the hryvnia by 3–4% could not only push citizens to move but also significantly affect the cost of construction.

A rise in the exchange rate will not lead to an instant price jump for all objects, but the currency factor will remain critical. A significant portion of building materials, engineering equipment, and components is purchased in dollars or euros. Moreover, many Ukrainians are trying to convert part of their savings into a tangible asset to protect capital from inflation.

### Buyer Profile and Selection Criteria

An analysis of relocation requests reveals clear preferences. 65% of buyers are looking for apartments with an area of 50 to 80 m². At the same time, the financial terms of the transaction remain strict: buyers require installment plans of at least two years and are ready to make a down payment of 30–50%. Notably, 80% of them plan to purchase new housing only after selling their existing property.

The main selection criteria are three factors:

- Safe location;

- High degree of object readiness;

- Predictability of costs.

Due to the desire to move quickly and avoid prolonged expenses, demand for apartments with finished decoration is growing. This allows fixing the budget and not spending time on repairs in conditions of instability.

### Forecast for the Near Future

In the coming months, the market will depend on the security situation, currency expectations, and the readiness of objects. Despite the surge in interest, experts do not yet speak of an established market trend. Previously, analysts noted that the increase in housing prices in the Ukrainian market is primarily due to the devaluation of the hryvnia, rather than a real growth in the cost per square meter.