The issue of rental costs for residential properties in Uzhhorod remains one of the most pressing for local residents and those who have found refuge here. The regional media outlet “Zakarpats’kyi Visnyk” conducted a survey on the streets of the regional capital to find out what people think: Are current apartment prices reasonable and affordable?
“Prices are on par with Lviv”
Most respondents agree that rental prices are unreasonably high. Some residents note that Uzhhorod’s real estate prices can now easily compete with those in Lviv, and in some cases even exceed the cost of hotel rooms in neighboring major cities.
For many families, rent is becoming an unbearable burden. Residents of Uzhhorod describe situations where two people in a family work, but one of their salaries is spent entirely on rent.
The Perspective of Internally Displaced Persons and Visitors
Internally displaced persons feel this problem particularly acutely. Displaced persons from the Luhansk and Kharkiv regions note that prices are “sky-high.” Some express outrage, noting that a basic apartment in Uzhhorod costs 20,000–25,000 hryvnias per month, not including utilities.
The Law of Supply and Demand: Another Perspective
At the same time, more pragmatic views are also heard on the city’s streets. Some respondents note that the real estate market operates according to classic economic principles: where there is demand, there is supply.
New residential complexes are currently under active construction in Uzhhorod, and large numbers of people continue to move to the city to rent these units. Consequently, as long as there are those who can afford such rent, prices will not fall. As the city’s residents themselves note, the situation is critical for people with low incomes; however, professionals with stable jobs can still afford to rent housing, even though it’s a financial strain.
For more details on how people view the pricing policies in the regional center’s real estate market, watch the video
