Average salaries in Slovakia continue to rise, but the population’s purchasing power is declining, according to data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
In the second quarter of 2026, nominal wages increased by 3.2% year-on-year. However, after adjusting for inflation, real wages fell by 0.5%. This was the first decline in two and a half years, the agency reported.
The average gross monthly wage in Slovakia reached €1,707 in the second quarter of 2026, before taxes and social contributions. This was approximately €53 higher than in the same period a year earlier. However, a salary increase does not automatically translate into an improvement in people’s financial circumstances, the Statistical Office noted.
In August 2026, Slovakia’s harmonised inflation rate stood at 3.1% year-on-year, its lowest level since September 2024. Nevertheless, most categories of consumer spending remained more expensive than a year earlier.
Average wages vary considerably across Slovakia’s regions. According to the Statistical Office, the highest average gross monthly salary in the second quarter of 2026 was recorded in the Bratislava Region, at €2,012. The lowest was in the Prešov Region, at €1,359.
The highest average earnings were recorded in financial and insurance activities, as well as in electricity and gas supply. The lowest average monthly wage was in the accommodation and food service sector, at €974.
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