A new study has found that many workers in Slovakia may be earning too little to maintain a decent standard of living, despite recent increases in the minimum wage.
Research by the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI) and the Amsterdam-based WageIndicator Foundation estimates that a “decent wage” in Slovakia should now stand at least at EUR 1,344 gross per month. By comparison, the country’s minimum wage rose to EUR 915 at the start of 2026.
According to the study, the legal minimum wage currently represents only 68% of what is needed to cover essential living costs. Researchers define a decent wage as enough income from a full-time job to pay for housing, food, transport, healthcare, utilities, clothing, internet access and childcare, while still covering taxes and unexpected expenses.
For workers earning the minimum wage, the shortfall amounts to around EUR 429 gross per month. Researchers warn that this gap can leave households struggling to pay rent, energy bills and food costs, while unexpected expenses such as medical bills or appliance repairs may force families into debt.
According to the Labour Ministry, around 180,000 people in the country earn the minimum wage.
The report suggests the problem extends beyond workers on the lowest pay. Although Slovakia’s average gross monthly salary reached EUR 1,620 in 2025, researchers say averages are distorted by high earners and do not reflect what most employees actually receive.
Researchers say median wage data provides a more accurate picture because it reflects the midpoint of earnings, with half of workers earning more and half earning less. In 2024, the median gross wage stood at EUR 1,434, only slightly above the estimated decent wage level at the time. Data from recruitment portal Profesia.sk also showed that 10% of employees earned no more than EUR 1,020 gross per month in 2025, rising to EUR 1,140 including bonuses and 13th salaries.
CELSI director Martin Kahanec said the recent increase in the minimum wage was an important step but remained insufficient. He warned that low wages affected not only living standards but also workers’ health, financial stability and productivity.
Researchers also pointed to significant regional differences. In Bratislava, where housing costs are highest, they estimate a decent wage should reach at least EUR 1,457 gross per month. In other regions, the figure ranges between EUR 1,250 and EUR 1,350.
The contrast is especially visible in eastern and central Slovakia, where average wages remain much lower. In the Presov Region, the average gross salary in 2025 was EUR 1,285, placing many workers close to or below the level researchers consider necessary for a decent standard of living. Even in Bratislava, however, higher salaries are often offset by sharply higher housing and living costs. (The Slovak Spectator)