New Eurostat data indicate that Poland belongs to the cheapest countries of the European Union in terms of consumer prices. Although in practice many Poles complain about expensiveness – especially during the vacation period – European statistic shed a different light on reality. However, the comparison of prices with earnings shows a more complex image and reveals actual sources of social discontent.
Holiday costly or illusion? Poles see prices differently from statistics
At the beginning of the vacation season, many photographs of receipts from Baltic restaurants and popular resorts appear online. They show that dessert and coffee on the Vistula River can cost more than in cafes in St Mark's Square in Venice. No wonder complaints about expensiveness in Poland are common, peculiarly after a period of advanced inflation, which importantly affected regular expenditure.
However, data published by Eurostat supply a broader context. alternatively of analyzing only isolated cases or subjective feelings, the overall price level of consumer goods and services has been reported in individual associate States. Result? Poland is amazingly cheap.
Poland the 3rd cheapest in the EU – 72% of the average price level
By Eurostat, prices of consumer goods and services in Poland are 72% of the EU average. The cheaper is only in Romania and Bulgaria. This consequence was corrected for exchange rate differences and converted utilizing purchasing power parity (PPS), which allows for a better comparison of the cost of surviving between countries.
The ranking on the another side includes the highest priced countries: Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Finland and Belgium. The average level of consumer prices in these countries is well above the EU average.
For comparison, countries like Germany (a small above the EU average) and Estonia (a small below) represent the ‘measure’ of the ranking. Hungary, Croatia, Lithuania and Latvia They are located small higher than Poland, which makes our region the cheapest in the full Community.
Low prices – yes, but besides low earnings
However, Eurostat data may lead to the incorrect conclusion that Poles have no reason to complain. This simplified approach ignores the key indicator: remuneration. due to the fact that if prices can be lower than the EU average, then earnings in Poland are among the lowest in the full Union.
According to Eurostat data, November 2024, The average yearly wage in Poland in 2023 was EUR 18,054, corresponding to about EUR 1 504 per period gross. By comparison, the EU average was almost twice as high.
Worse than Poland only in Bulgaria and Romaniaand, contrary to the current opinion, in Greece and Hungary. And it is these countries that are located next to Poland besides in the list of the cheapest places to live. This shows that low prices in Poland are not the consequence of economical success, but alternatively necessity resulting from lower income levels.
Low purchasing power – the main problem of Poles
Although prices in Poland are low in EU terms, relative purchasing power of Poles remains low. This simply means that for his statistical salary, Poles can buy little goods and services than the average Western European citizen – despite lower prices.
That's it. imbalance between earnings and costs of living makes Poles feel costly more than the "dry" data would suggest. While prices are higher in Germany or Denmark, for example, Disparities in wages make their citizens more acceptable.
What does the data say? Poland is not inexpensive if you gain in Poland
The comparison of price data with the level of earnings leads to a simple conclusion: Poland is inexpensive only erstwhile you gain in euro. For Western tourists our country can inactive be attractive at prices. Not necessarily for Polish citizens. economical reality in Poland remains difficult, especially for people with lower incomes.
Increase in real wages in Poland in fresh years, it has not kept pace with price increases, peculiarly during the evidence inflation period from 2022 to 2023. It only deepened the subjective feeling that life was becoming more expensive.
Perspectives: data versus regular experience
The fresh Eurostat data clearly shows that statistics do not always reflect the real experience of citizens. Poland may be in a group of countries with the lowest prices, but regular shopping, bills and vacation expenses tell many people something completely different.
Just combination of price indices and gross analysis gives a full image of the economical situation of the country. In the case of Poland, this image remains ambiguous: relatively inexpensive but without adequate earnings – it is inactive not adequate to talk about a real improvement in the standard of living.
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Poland among the cheapest EU countries? Eurostat data shows more than just prices
