Moving to Ukraine from Germany

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Germany to Ukraine? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Germany to Ukraine, you would find that Ukraine is 58.4% cheaper than Germany overall. A €65,577 salary in Germany would need to be roughly UAH1,668,952 in Ukraine to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Ukrainian.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Germany and Ukraine.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 UAH1,668,952

To maintain the same standard of living in Ukraine

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 70.1% less

Groceries

pay 51.4% less

Transportation

pay 51.9% less

Housing

pay 74.0% less

Childcare

pay 60.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 51.03 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 54% less than cities in Germany.

Germany

Munich 66%
Frankfurt 63%
Hamburg 63%
Oldenburg 55%

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Germany to Ukraine.

Living there in 2020
1,099 ↑ 1% vs 2015

people born in Germany live in Ukraine · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ukraine?

Top countries of origin for Ukraine's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Ukraine compared to Germany.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

DE
0.8
UA
3.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

DE
3.3
UA
10.5

Germany 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

DE
$8,826
UA
$1,382
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

DE
45.2
UA
29.9

Germany 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

DE
15.0
UA
66.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

DE
6.9t
UA
3.1t

Germany 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

DE
45.0
UA
18.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

DE
35.4%
UA
12.3%

Germany 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

DE
3.0%
UA
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

DE
$61,900
UA
$16,200

Germany 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

DE
81.5 yrs
UA
73.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

DE
3.2
UA
7.3

Germany generally does better on family life, though Ukraine leads in education spending.

Data: Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Berlin Rain: 22.5 in/yr (571 mm)
56° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Berlin Kiev
Jan–Mar 41°/31°F (5°/-1°C) 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/47°F (18°/8°C) 68°/51°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/55°F (22°/13°C) 76°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 47°/37°F (8°/3°C) 43°/33°F (6°/1°C)
View all months
Month Berlin Kiev
Jan 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.9°C) 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C)
Feb 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.5°C) 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C)
Mar 47°/34°F (8.5°/1.3°C) 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C)
Apr 56°/40°F (13.2°/4.2°C) 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C)
May 66°/48°F (18.9°/9.0°C) 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C)
Jun 71°/54°F (21.6°/12.3°C) 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C)
Jul 75°/58°F (23.7°/14.3°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.6°/14.1°C) 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C)
Sep 66°/51°F (18.8°/10.6°C) 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C)
Oct 56°/44°F (13.4°/6.4°C) 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C)
Nov 45°/36°F (7.1°/2.2°C) 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C)
Dec 40°/31°F (4.4°/-0.4°C) 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C)

Data: Deutscher Wetterdienst Deutscher Wetterdienst, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Germany 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.

Germany passport

Germany passport holder visiting Ukraine

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

Ukraine passport holder visiting Germany

Visa Free
Ukraine passport holders can enter Germany 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 Germany?

On average Ukraine is about 50% less expensive than Germany, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Ukraine?

Budget about UAH417,238 for 3 months in Ukraine (based on a €65,577 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ukraine?

Connectivity is usually fine (Ukraine: 18.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Ukraine offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Ukraine safe for expats?

Germany performs better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ukraine is 3.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.8 in Germany.

How is healthcare in Ukraine compared to Germany?

Germany 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 45.2 in Germany. Ukraine scores 76 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Germany: 88).

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

The average high temperature in Kiev is 56°F, compared to 56°F in Berlin. Kiev receives around 23.8 in of rainfall per year, while Berlin gets 22.5 in.

What language do they speak in Ukraine?

The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. In Germany, the official language is German.

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At a Glance

DE UA
Population 84,316,622 43,528,136
Currency Euro (€) Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Languages German Ukrainian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +49 +380
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112