What a move to Kyiv really costs: a 14-line breakdown
Not just the rent. Deposit, commission, transport, internet, meters, the first grocery run - the full number.
Andrii Koval
author
4 MAY 2026 · 2 min
When someone says "rent is 18,000", they mean only the monthly payment. The real move-in budget is the amount you need to have in hand during the first week. Let's break it down line by line so you do not end up stranded in a new city.
What goes into your starting amount
A rough breakdown for a one-bedroom apartment in Kyiv as of 2026. The numbers are approximate - so you can see the structure, not an exact total.
| Expense | Approx., UAH |
|---|---|
| First month of rent | 18,000 |
| Deposit (usually one month) | 18,000 |
| Realtor commission (0 with Kvarto) | 9,000 |
| Moving your things | 2,500 |
| Internet - connection | 500 |
| First grocery run + small items | 3,000 |
| Total at the start | 51,000 |
| Total with Kvarto (no commission) | 42,000 |
Where you can save
The biggest line after the rent itself is the realtor commission. You can remove it entirely: on Kvarto you rent directly from the owner, so there is no realtor commission at all. One line of "9,000" disappears from the table - that is more than every other moving expense put together.
Kvarto has no realtor commission - only a transparent 3% service fee. In the example above that is around 9,000 UAH saved right at the start, and instead of a middleman you talk to the owner directly.
The hidden line: paying for two apartments
If you are leaving your old apartment and moving into the new one with a few days of overlap, plan for that overlap. The most common unexpected cost is a week of paying for two apartments at once.
Summary
When planning a move, count the starting amount, not the monthly rent. Browse apartments with no commission - and you will see right away how much actually stays in your budget.
Looking for an apartment?
Browse listings directly from owners across Ukraine - no realtors, no hidden commissions.
Go to search