Moving to United Kingdom from Ukraine

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Ukraine to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 3.6 times more expensive than Ukraine overall. A UAH3,346,113 salary in Ukraine would need to be roughly £121,861 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Ukraine to United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

UAH3,346,113 £121,861

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 3.2 times more

Groceries

pay 2.1 times more

Transportation

pay 4.0 times more

Housing

pay 5.0 times more

Childcare

pay 5.1 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.6 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 UAH = 0.0167 GBP (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 United Kingdom cost about 121% more than cities in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Kiev 36%
Vinnytsya 30%

United Kingdom

Bath 63%
Slough 61%

Compare cities head-to-head

Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Ukraine to United Kingdom, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
22,119 ↑ 13% vs 2015

people born in Ukraine live in United Kingdom · UN DESA

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Ukraine to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
3.8
GB
1.0
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

UA
10.5
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

UA
$1,382
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

UA
29.9
GB
31.7

United Kingdom 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

UA
66.0
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

UA
3.1t
GB
4.2t

Ukraine generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

UA
18.3
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

UA
12.3%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom 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

UA
9.8%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

UA
$16,200
GB
$54,100

Ukraine generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

UA
73.5 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

UA
7.3
GB
3.8

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ukraine across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Revenue and Duties of Ukraine, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kiev London
Jan–Mar 36°/25°F (2°/-4°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/51°F (20°/10°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/58°F (24°/14°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/33°F (6°/1°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Kiev London
Jan 31°/22°F (-0.7°/-5.5°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 33°/23°F (0.8°/-5.0°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 44°/31°F (6.5°/-0.8°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.1°/5.7°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 70°/52°F (21.1°/10.9°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 76°/59°F (24.6°/14.8°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 79°/60°F (25.9°/15.7°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 68°/51°F (20.0°/10.6°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 55°/41°F (12.9°/5.1°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 42°/33°F (5.3°/0.3°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 33°/26°F (0.5°/-3.5°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Ukraine passport

Ukraine passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Ukraine passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Ukraine

Visa Free
United Kingdom passport holders can enter Ukraine 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 United Kingdom than Ukraine?

No — United Kingdom is on average about 119% more expensive than Ukraine. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly £30,465 in United Kingdom on a UAH3,346,113 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

Internet is rarely the blocker — United Kingdom has 41.4 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 United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Ukraine across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.8 in Ukraine.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Ukraine?

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ukraine leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 29.9 in Ukraine. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ukraine: 76).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Ukraine?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 56°F in Kiev. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kiev gets 23.8 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Ukraine, the official language is Ukrainian.

Share this

At a Glance

UA GB
Population 43,528,136 67,791,400
Currency Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages Ukrainian English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +380 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 999