How to Buy an Apartment in Kyiv: An Informational Guide from A to Z

Money is not the only thing you need to buy an apartment. You want to spend your hard-earned money as efficiently as possible—not overpay and avoid falling victim to scammers. The first steps in searching for the desired home raise a lot of questions, the answers to which are not easy to find. The goal of our article is to provide qualified advice to real estate buyers.

A fundamentally important question that first arises for a buyer is: where is the best place to purchase a home? The first thought that comes to mind is to buy in your hometown or move to a regional center. But if you're going to change your life, why not go big? The best option is to buy an apartment in Kyiv. As the saying goes: don’t settle for the small stuff—aim for something big.

Status. No matter what people say, the capital offers far more opportunities than any other Ukrainian city. Moving to Kyiv, or at least its suburbs, will not only enhance the quality and status of your life but also lay a solid foundation for professional growth or even the realization of a big dream. The unique spirit of Kyiv, shaped over centuries, first mesmerizes you, and then never lets you go. Once you move to the capital, you will definitely feel this magnetism yourself.

Price. The issue of price is one of the most significant factors when buying an apartment. On the one hand, the average cost of housing in the capital is higher than in other major cities of Ukraine. On the other hand, this difference is not so great as to discourage living in the capital. Moreover, there are cheaper options available for purchasing square meters in the suburbs of Kyiv. It is more appropriate to find additional funds or even postpone the purchase for a while rather than compromise. We also recommend contacting a real estate agency in Kyiv that will constantly monitor the market for you: as soon as an interesting offer appears, the realtor will immediately inform you about it.

 | District  | Price with Renovation ($)  |  Price without Renovation ($)
| Pechersky | 110,000 | 108,700
| Shevchenkivskyi | 80,000 | 74,900
| Holosiivskyi | 72,500 | 60,000
| Darnytskyi | 65,000 | 51,500
| Podilskyi | 70,000 | 55,500
| Dniprovskyi | 52,000 | 54,800
| Solomianskyi | 57,000 | 47,000
| Obolonskyi | 52,000 | 47,000
| Sviatoshynskyi | 46,000 | 42,000
| Desnianskyi | 41,700 | 38,000

 | District  | Price with Renovation ($)  |  Price without Renovation ($)
| Pechersky | 180,000 | 161,000
| Shevchenkivskyi | 100,000 | 118,500
| Holosiivskyi | 110,000 | 93,000
| Darnytskyi | 89,000 | 88,000
| Podilskyi | 104,000 | 79,000
| Solomianskyi | 80,000 | 79,000
| Obolonskyi | 73,000 | 75,000
| Dniprovskyi | 65,000 | 75,000
| Sviatoshynskyi | 60,000 | 59,500
| Desnianskyi | 55,000 | Not enough data

 | District  | Price with Renovation ($)  |  Price without Renovation ($)
| Pechersky | 318,000 | 267,900
| Shevchenkivskyi | 190,000 | 170,000
| Holosiivskyi | 140,000 | 124,000
| Solomianskyi | 128,500 | 116,500
| Darnytskyi | 110,000 | 108,000
| Podilskyi | 120,000 | 103,000
| Dniprovskyi | 95,000 | 110,000
| Obolonskyi | 99,000 | 92,000
| Sviatoshynskyi | 77,000 | Not enough data
| Desnianskyi | 68,000 | Not enough data

Work and Salaries. In Kyiv, salaries are higher, and it's easier to find a job. This is one of the most important reasons why Ukrainians strive to move to the capital. A good specialist (from an electrician to a marketer) working in Kyiv has the opportunity to pay off a mortgage—it's better to live in your own apartment than in a rented one.

Special mention should be made of the IT sector. Kyiv is the center of IT industry development, with both large national and international IT companies operating here, offering significant prospects for specialists in this field. Additionally, IT professionals earn well in the capital in industrial enterprises, trade, the entertainment industry, and more.

Business. Considering business activity, standard of living, and population size, Kyiv is undoubtedly the best city for running your own business. Although many firms in the capital closed at the beginning of the major war, mainly due to the departure of Kyiv residents in the early months of the aggression, many new business projects have since emerged in the city. These were mostly started by people relocating from other regions of the country. Many enterprises have relocated their production specifically to Kyiv. So if you're an entrepreneur, moving to the capital won't be a mistake—on the contrary, you'll have prospects for business expansion.

Transport Infrastructure. Kyiv is the largest metropolis in Ukraine. However, the capital has a developed transport infrastructure that ensures quick and convenient movement. You can travel from one end of the city to the other in about an hour, and even faster by metro. Of course, during rush hours, you might have to deal with traffic jams, but this is a problem for all large cities, not just in Ukraine.

Metro System. The Kyiv Metro covers all districts of the city. From the terminal metro stations, bus routes extend to the suburbs, where many new residential developments are currently located. In the central districts, one-way traffic for cars is organized on the streets, there are dedicated lanes for public transport, and bicycle lanes are available. In the summer, on some major roads, the speed limit is increased to 80 km/h instead of the usual 50 km/h.

Education. Kyiv offers the most opportunities for a child's development. If you are not satisfied with a municipal kindergarten, you can enroll your child in a private one that operates on a special program and offers an individualized approach to each child. The same applies to schools—you have a choice. You can enroll your child in a private school attended by the children of diplomats, politicians, or simply dollar millionaires. In such schools, children usually stay for the entire day: after classes, they complete their homework, participate in clubs and extracurricular activities, and are provided with meals. Alternatively, you can try to get your child into a prestigious gymnasium affiliated with a university, where educators specifically prepare students for higher education. Everything depends on the child's talents and the parents' financial capabilities.

Healthcare. Kyiv is home to the best medical facilities in the country, offering a wide range of services. In municipal hospitals, you can find highly qualified specialists in narrow fields, which are often not available in regional centers. The city administration allocates significant funds for healthcare, so Kyiv residents receive some expensive medications and undergo tests for free. In complex cases, there is an opportunity to seek help from specialized institutes of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.

Culture and Sports. A distinctive feature of everyday life in Kyiv is the rich cultural program. You can choose to visit a theater, concert, festival, exhibition, creative evening, book presentation, or planetarium. Additionally, there is a well-developed cultural infrastructure for children and teenagers. Before the major war, many sports competitions took place in Kyiv, including stages of European Championships, and fans attended big football matches. Currently, sports life has been paused, but everyone believes that soon stadiums and sports complexes will come back to life. In Kyiv, both adults and children have the opportunity to engage in various sports (from chess to hockey). There is no shortage of sports schools.

Weekend Walks. Kyiv residents love to stroll around their city, mostly using the weekend for this. On weekends, Khreshchatyk becomes a pedestrian zone where thousands of Kyiv residents and guests of the capital take walks; street musicians and dancers entertain passersby, and numerous vendors sell Kyiv perepichky (sausages in dough) and souvenirs. Nearby are Volodymyrska Hill, St. Sophia's Cathedral, and St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Andriyivskyy Descent, and Podil. A bit further away are the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal. Everything breathes ancient history, reminding you of the eternal greatness of the capital city of Rus.

City parks are also usually crowded. Kyiv residents come here with their families, meet friends, and enjoy their leisure time. After reconstruction, the parks are neat, well-maintained, and equipped with leisure infrastructure. For example, at VDNH (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy), you can rent a barbecue area with tables, rent a bike or scooter, visit attractions, or enjoy the summer pool.

Civil Protection. Due to the war, safety from enemy attacks, especially from the air, has become an important factor when choosing a place to live. As practice shows, Kyiv is safer than other cities in the country. Additionally, the Kyiv authorities have more funds for setting up shelters, including in schools and kindergartens. The capital is also better supplied with electricity since many government institutions and strategic facilities are located here.

A Profitable Investment. Investing money in real estate in the capital is a profitable investment. The real estate market in Kyiv is the most dynamic in Ukraine; thanks to stable demand, prices constantly rise, so later on, this investment will bring you a good return. In Kyiv and its suburbs, there is a wide range of new buildings: you can choose a completed residential complex or one that is still under construction. In the latter case, you may gain more, although you will have to wait a year or so for your new home. If you have spare funds, it's better to invest them in real estate in the capital—let your money work for you. When the building is commissioned, you can sell your square meters and, for example, instead of a one-bedroom apartment, invest in the construction of a two-bedroom one.

State Support. Certain categories of the population have the opportunity to use state programs to purchase housing in Kyiv. The fact is that national programs are not tied to specific regions—housing can be chosen in any region of Ukraine, regardless of the citizen's place of registration. This applies, for example, to the "eRecovery" program, through which the state provides monetary compensation for housing lost due to the war. If you lost your home in Donetsk or Kherson, you can buy an apartment in Kyiv.

For combatants, veterans, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who do not own housing, there is a state program for preferential mortgage lending called "eHousing." Participants in this program can also include representatives of strategically important professions: contract military personnel, law enforcement officers, teachers, medical workers, and scientists. So, dear readers, it's time to act and acquire your own housing in the capital. By the way, in 2024 alone, about 5.5 thousand families received affordable loans to purchase housing through "eHousing."

So, you've decided to buy property in Kyiv. But the capital is too large—how do you choose your district? There can be several strategies here; the main thing is to decide on your priorities when searching for your future place of residence. Some people look for a cheaper option regardless of the district, others prefer being close to a metro station. Some prioritize housing near the chosen university or school where their child will study. Others seek a place close to the office center where their employer is located. For some, the most important factor is convenient transport connections to easily commute by car to work.

In short, each of Kyiv's 10 districts has its own advantages. The closer you are to the historical center, the more expensive the housing, but the more prestigious it is. Overall, the infrastructure necessary for comfortable living is well-developed throughout the city.

You can learn more about the features of Kyiv's districts in our article "How to Choose a District for Buying an Apartment in Kyiv?" (provide a link to this article).

What type of housing should you buy—new or on the secondary market? This is a fundamental question that you need to decide right away to begin searching for the right apartment.

Of course, new is always better. First and foremost, it offers modern planning and design. New buildings are usually constructed with energy-saving materials, and the apartments in them have spacious kitchens and bathrooms. New engineering systems reduce the risk of breakdowns, which will save you from frequent repairs. Many new buildings are equipped with security and video surveillance systems, located in closed areas, which increases the safety of residents. Often, new buildings are near covered parking lots, shopping centers or galleries, private kindergartens, schools, and clinics.

The advantage of an apartment on the secondary market is that it is ready for immediate occupancy, provided you don't plan on renovating it to your liking. The infrastructure is well-known: where the stores, markets, cafes, school, and kindergarten are located. You also know which public transport routes are nearby. You can even get to know your future neighbors in advance. Another advantage of secondary housing is the lower price compared to new buildings.

The choice is yours, weighing all the pros and cons and considering your needs and financial capabilities.

When purchasing real estate, legal risks must be taken into account. When buying square meters in a new building, such risks are more prevalent. To avoid them (and thus avoid problems in the future), you should hire a lawyer to check the documents, including those of the construction customer and developer, the land allocation, and the designation of the land plot. You should also ensure the availability and validity of licenses and construction permits, etc.

If you decide to purchase secondary housing, you need to be careful not to encounter problems with previous owners. This requires thorough verification of the title documents for the apartment and the authority of the signer. Here, too, you can't do without a lawyer.

We recommend contacting a real estate agency that provides comprehensive legal support: the realtor will help you find an apartment, and the lawyer will check all the documents to ensure no misunderstandings arise later. A real estate agency that works jointly with a legal firm is the best option for the safe purchase of housing. This is what the happy owners of apartments in Kyiv say.