To meet basic needs, Ukrainians will need to earn at least 15,000 to 20,000 hryvnias per person each month in 2025. If there is a child in the family, the financial requirement significantly increases, and each adult will need to have an income of at least 20,000 hryvnias per month.
This is reported by Finway
Major Expenses of Ukrainian Families
According to financial literacy expert Olena Yarova, the largest portion of Ukrainians’ budgets consists of expenses for housing and food. The cost of renting an apartment in Kyiv starts from 10,000 to 15,000 hryvnias per month, which greatly exceeds the state-established minimum living wage. Even if the housing belongs to the resident, expenses for utilities, ongoing repairs, and household needs remain substantial.
“If a person rents an apartment, for example, in Kyiv, it costs from 10,000 to 15,000 hryvnias. Agree, this is significantly more than the official minimum. Even if a person owns their apartment, they still have to pay for utilities, buy things for the apartment, and do minor repairs,” explained the expert.
Income Dynamics and Future Forecast
Yarova emphasizes that to maintain an average standard of living, it is desirable to earn from 30,000 hryvnias, yet most citizens receive only 15,000 to 16,000 hryvnias each month. This means that approximately half of working Ukrainians have an income that is only sufficient for basic needs. Considering inflation, it becomes clear why many are forced to live paycheck to paycheck.
She also warns against taking out loans to cover the shortfall, as monthly payments can be too high, and the risk of falling into a debt trap is significant.
The government predicts that the average salary in Ukraine could rise to nearly 40,000 hryvnias by 2028. In 2025, the average salary is projected to be around 24,389 hryvnias. The National Bank expects that this year the average salary will increase by 19%, but due to inflation at 13.3%, the real increase will only be 5.2%. Therefore, for many Ukrainians, the issue of sufficient income remains relevant.