Is 'eOselya' or Renting Better in 2026?

In some cities of Ukraine, purchasing an apartment through the 'eOselya' mortgage program is more advantageous than long-term renting. Where is it more beneficial to buy than to rent, reports Delo.ua, referencing a study by 'OLX Real Estate'.

‘eOselya’ or renting: what’s better in 2026? Photo: Depositphotos

Where the 'eOselya' Payment is Lower than Rent

In the Lviv region, the payment for 'eOselya' is 17.1 thousand UAH, while renting a one-bedroom apartment in Lviv averages 19.4 thousand UAH.

A similar situation exists in other western cities. In Ivano-Frankivsk, the average rent is more than 2 thousand UAH higher than the mortgage payment, and in Transcarpathia, rent exceeds the estimated payment for 'eOselya' by 40%. Rent is also more expensive than the mortgage in Volyn.

Read also: How much does housing cost in the primary market in Ukraine — fresh data from LUN

Where Rent is Cheaper than the 'eOselya' Payment

This situation is prevalent in most regional centers. In Kyiv, tenants of a one-bedroom apartment need to pay around 16 thousand UAH/month, while the mortgage payment is 18.3 thousand UAH.

A similar picture is observed in Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipro, Poltava, Zhytomyr, and Cherkasy. There, the difference between rent and mortgage usually does not exceed 10-20%.

A slightly different situation is in Odesa: renting a one-bedroom apartment will cost about 10 thousand UAH, while the monthly mortgage payment is around 13 thousand UAH.

Read also: Housing vouchers are not suitable for the 'eOselya' mortgage: what’s the reason?

Where the Biggest Difference Between 'eOselya' Payment and Rent Exists

The most significant difference between rent and mortgage payments is in frontline cities.

In Kharkiv, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for 6.5 thousand UAH/month, while the estimated mortgage payment exceeds 10 thousand UAH. A similar situation exists in Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia.

Thus, if you have money for a down payment, buying may be a more advantageous long-term solution, especially in relatively safe cities with high demand.

What are the Conditions of the 'eOselya' Program

As of February, the conditions of 'eOselya' have changed:

• The maximum size of housing for purchase is 115.5 sq. m for apartments and 125.5 sq. m for houses;
• The area limit for 1-2 people is 52.5 sq. m for apartments and 62.5 sq. m for houses. An additional 21 sq. m is allowed for each additional family member;
• The price of housing, square meter cost, and its area cannot exceed the norms by more than 10%.