The cost of living in April 2026: what the figures will be
This is set out in the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026”.
From 1 January 2026, the monthly subsistence minimum per person is 3,209 UAH. For children under 6 years of age, it is set at 2,817 UAH; for children aged 6 to 18 – 3,512 UAH; for able-bodied persons – 3,328 UAH; and for persons who have lost their ability to work – 2,595 UAH. These figures will not be revised in April.
The minimum wage will also remain unchanged in April. The 2026 State Budget Law maintains it at 8,647 UAH per month and 52 UAH per hour.
What the subsistence minimum is linked to
The subsistence minimum is used as a baseline for calculating a range of social benefits. It is this figure, in particular, that determines certain types of assistance, sick pay, maintenance payments and some financial penalties. The Law “On the Subsistence Minimum” defines this indicator as the monetary value of a set of foodstuffs sufficient for the normal functioning of the human body, as well as a minimum set of non-food goods and services.
In recent years, the subsistence minimum has fluctuated unevenly. In 2000, it was set at 270.1 UAH per person per month. In 2012, the general figure exceeded 1,000 UAH for the first time and stood at 1,017 UAH from 1 January, although for children under 6 it was then 893 UAH, and for persons who had lost their ability to work, 822 UAH. At the end of 2019, the overall subsistence minimum stood at 2,027 UAH; in 2025, it was 2,920 UAH; and it only crossed the 3,000 UAH mark from 1 January 2026.
In 2026, guardians and carers may also receive monthly state social assistance for children under 18. The amount is 2.5 times the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age, and 3.5 times the subsistence minimum for children with disabilities. Based on current figures, this could indeed mean payments of over 12,000 UAH, depending on the child’s age and status.
Among other financial changes in April is the automatic recalculation of pensions for working pensioners from 1 April without the need for an additional application. Separately, the National Bank is amending the reporting rules for participants in the non-bank financial services market: the new requirements came into force on 1 April 2026. The updated rules for calculating official salaries in 2026 are also already in force pursuant to government resolutions.
As a reminder, in April, the payment amounts for some pensioners will be updated. The Pension Fund of Ukraine notes that the recalculation takes into account new data on length of service, earnings and changes in social indicators, which may significantly affect the amount of the pension.
