Prices are similar, salaries are different: how much does it cost to live in Ukraine and five European countries

In Ukraine, basic purchases are often cheaper than in Western Europe, but take a larger share of income. A comparison of wage levels and expenses shows why the same bill affects the family budget differently. This is reported by Finance.ua.

Salaries after taxes: what incomes were compared in the fall of 2026

Finance.ua compared Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and Turkey. To assess purchasing power, the publication used estimated after-tax incomes:

• Ukraine: 24,550 UAH, or about 485 euros;

• Turkey: 50,750 lira, approximately 910 euros;

• Poland: 6,100 zloty, about 1,400 euros;

• Czech Republic: 36,500 crowns, approximately 1,460 euros;

• France: 2,500 euros;

• Germany: 2,700 euros for a single worker without children.

These are estimates from the material and not guaranteed earnings for every worker. The amount after deductions depends on the contract, family status, and tax benefits. The Ukrainian calculation is based on a salary of 31,890 UAH before taxation, so it should not be mixed with other monthly figures.

Shopping basket: how much of the salary is taken by basic food

The conditional monthly set for one person includes bread, milk, eggs, meat, potatoes, apples, rice, cheese, and oil. The following expenses are compared:

• Ukraine: 4,200 UAH, or 17.1% of net salary;

• Turkey: 3,600 lira, about 7.1%;

• Poland: 420 zloty, approximately 6.9%;

• Czech Republic: 2,950 crowns, about 8.1%;

• France: 240 euros, or 9.6%;

• Germany: 210 euros, approximately 7.8%.

According to these estimates, the Ukrainian basket is cheaper than the French or German when converted to euros. However, its share of income exceeds the Polish indicator by more than twice.

At the same time, the provided description does not specify the quantity of each product in the monthly set. Therefore, these amounts should be taken as an approximate comparison rather than a full food budget.

Fuel: how much does 100 liters of gasoline cost

For motorists, the difference in purchasing power is even more noticeable. Finance.ua calculated the conditional expenses for 100 liters of A-95 per month:

• Ukraine: 9,000 UAH, or 36.7% of net salary;

• Turkey: 7,980 lira, about 15.7%;

• Poland: 610 zloty, 10%;

• Czech Republic: 3,950 crowns, approximately 10.8%;

• France: 182 euros, about 7.3%;

• Germany: 180 euros, approximately 6.7%.

This scenario is for comparison and not an average consumption for each driver. If using 50 liters, the costs and their share of salary would be halved.

Ukrainian prices are influenced by the purchase price of oil products, the exchange rate, and transportation. That is why previous fuel price changes do not allow determining refueling costs for several months ahead.

Housing rent: the largest burden on the budget

A higher salary abroad comes with significant housing expenses. The material provides the following benchmarks:

• Ukraine: about 14,000 UAH for a one-room apartment with utilities in a regional center;

• Turkey: from 20,000 lira in large cities including utility payments;

• France: 600–850 euros for a studio or one-room apartment in provincial towns, 1,100–1,500 euros in Paris;

• Germany: 900–1,400 euros for housing with heating;

• Poland and Czech Republic: according to the publication's estimate, rent can take 40–50% of monthly income.

If we compare the Ukrainian 14,000 UAH with the net salary of 24,550 UAH used in the material, housing takes about 57% of income. After rent and a conditional shopping basket, there will be 6,350 UAH left for transportation, medications, clothing, and other needs.

How to compare expenses before moving

The average salary of the country does not show how much a specific new worker will earn. For personal calculation, a job offer with an amount after deductions, actual rental price, and travel expenses are needed.

It is also essential to consider the deposit for housing, insurance, childcare, and possible periods without earnings. Social payments should be added to the budget after checking eligibility and current conditions.

The most useful is to compare the remainder after mandatory payments in a specific city. Even within one country, the cost of renting housing can significantly change the result: a higher salary does not always leave more disposable money.