The onset of the new academic season in 2026 has once again brought the issue of finding housing for applicants and students to the forefront. On the eve of the start of studies, the real estate rental market is showing significant dynamics, directly dependent on the geographical location of universities and the security situation in the regions. According to a study by OLX Real Estate, published by RBC-Ukraine, prices for renting apartments and rooms in cities with top universities range from 2,500 to 22,000 UAH per month.

Leaders in Cost: Uzhhorod and Lviv

Analysts compiled a rating of cities where the 20 best universities in Ukraine are located and analyzed the cost of renting one-bedroom apartments. The leader in housing cost in June 2026 was Uzhhorod. The median cost of renting a one-bedroom apartment here reached 22,133 UAH per month. This is 18% higher than a year ago, indicating high demand for living space in the western regions. Second place was taken by Lviv with a figure of 20,168 UAH (+15% over the year), and third — Kyiv, where rent costs 17,000 UAH (+6%).

It is worth noting that Ivano-Frankivsk is rapidly approaching the capital in terms of price levels. The median rental cost there reached 16,500 UAH, with prices rising by 27% over the year. In Chernivtsi, renting a one-bedroom apartment is valued at 13,458 UAH (+19%), while in Dnipro and Odesa it is 12,000 UAH (+20%). In Rivne, prices remained at last year's level — 12,000 UAH.

Frontline Regions Market: Recovery and Affordability

The lowest apartment rental prices were recorded in Sumy and Kharkiv — 7,000 UAH per month. However, the dynamics in these cities differ radically. In Sumy, prices fell by 7% over the year, whereas in Kharkiv they rose by 56% at once. Experts link this sharp jump in Kharkiv to the gradual recovery of the real estate market and the return of people to the city after a period of instability.

Analysts emphasize that in 2026, rental costs are influenced not only by the number of educational institutions or the size of the city, but also by the security factor. This is why cities in Western Ukraine remain the most expensive for renting, while housing in frontline regions is significantly cheaper, although it shows growth in certain locations.

Room Rental as an Alternative for Students

For those who want to save money, renting a room remains a popular option. Here too, the most expensive city is Uzhhorod — the median cost is 6,500 UAH per month (+18%). In Lviv, a room costs 5,000 UAH, and this price has not changed over the year. In Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi, renting a room will cost 4,500 and 4,626 UAH, respectively.

In Kyiv, Dnipro, and Rivne, renting a room costs around 4,000 UAH. At the same time, in Dnipro the price rose by 14%, in Rivne by 8%, while in Kyiv, conversely, it fell by 5%. The most affordable options for students are in Odesa and Kharkiv, where a room can be rented for 3,000 UAH. The lowest median cost of renting a room was recorded in Sumy — only 2,500 UAH.

Digitalization of Services for Applicants

In addition to finding housing, students in 2026 have access to simplified registration procedures. RBC-Ukraine previously reported on the launch of an online service for changing the place of registration for students in dormitories on the 'Diia' portal. Now, some students can arrange a change of registration remotely, without the need to visit the CNAP (Public Service Center) and submit paper documents, which significantly saves time when moving to another city.