Ukrainians are forced to spend most of their income on basic needs. According to the study, about 84% of citizens' monthly budget goes to food, medicine, and utility bills.
These expenses significantly exceed the indicators of European countries. In particular, in Germany and the Netherlands, only 56–59% of the family budget is spent on basic needs.
Ukrainians spend the least on leisure — only about 1%. For comparison, in European countries this figure reaches 16–17%, which indicates a significantly higher level of financial stability and opportunities for recreation.
Experts note that this expenditure structure demonstrates a high level of financial burden on households in Ukraine. The predominance of basic expenses over other categories limits people's ability to invest in development, education, or quality recreation.
The study also highlights the significant difference in living standards between Ukraine and European Union countries, where the share of spending on basic needs is significantly lower.
