Ukrainians spend 66% of their budget on food and mandatory payments, which is 2.5 times more than the world average. As Deloitte's research showed, Ukraine is the only country among the studied countries where spending on this category exceeds 50%.
There is nothing particularly surprising - even in peacetime, the standard of living in Ukraine was one of the lowest in Europe. Average wages were low, and prices for many goods and services were relatively high. This means that many people did not have any spare funds left after paying the basic expenses. But the military conflict led to a significant increase in the prices of food and basic necessities. Many people lost their jobs or income during this time, which reduced their purchasing power.
At the same time, the social protection system in Ukraine leaves much to be desired. The level of social benefits is low, and many needy people are denied the right to receive them. In this way, for low-income people, life has effectively turned into survival.
