Moving to Ukraine from France

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Ukraine — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 58.2% cheaper than France overall. A €65,700 salary in France would need to be roughly UAH1,673,848 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from France to Ukraine.

What does your salary buy?

€65,700 UAH1,673,848

To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 68.9% less

Groceries

pay 55.9% less

Transportation

pay 52.8% less

Housing

pay 67.3% less

Childcare

pay 61.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 69.0% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 50.84 UAH (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Ukraine cost about 50% less than cities in France.

France

Paris 69%
Antibes 66%
Annecy 61%
Nantes 56%

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Ukraine.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
UA
3.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
UA
10.5

France performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
UA
$1,382
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
UA
29.9

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
UA
66.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
UA
3.1t

France generally does better on environment, though Ukraine leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
UA
18.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
UA
12.3%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Ukraine leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
UA
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
UA
$16,200

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Ukraine leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
UA
73.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
UA
7.3

France performs better than Ukraine across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kiev Rain: 23.8 in/yr (605 mm)
56° / 42°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Kiev
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 68°/51°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 76°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 43°/33°F (6°/1°C)
View all months
Month Paris Kiev
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Ukraine. To live, work, or study long-term in Ukraine, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Ukraine's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Free
France passport holders can enter Ukraine without a visa.
Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting France

Visa Free
Ukraine passport holders can enter France without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Ukraine than France?

Yes — Ukraine is on average about 50% cheaper than France. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly UAH418,462 in Ukraine on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Ukraine?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Ukraine has 18.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Ukraine safe for expats?

France performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to France?

France generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Ukraine, compared to 33.4 in France. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What's the weather like in Ukraine compared to France?

The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Ukraine?

The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR UA
Population 68,305,148 43,528,136
Currency Euro (€) Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Languages French Ukrainian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +380
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 112