Where Is It More Expensive? We Compared the Cost of Borscht in Ukraine and Poland

On the occasion of the Borscht Festival, held in ten cities across Poland for the third consecutive year, the Gremi Personal analytics centre calculated the "Borscht Index". This index, which reflects the cost of ingredients needed to prepare traditional Ukrainian borscht, serves as an indicator of the population's purchasing power and the general price level of essential food products. In 2024, the Borscht Index in Ukraine and Poland shows significant differences, driven by the distinct economic conditions in each country.

As of August 2024, the cost of ingredients to prepare borscht in Ukraine amounts to 169.7 UAH. The index includes the following ingredients: pork (300 g), beetroot (300 g), potatoes (300 g), cabbage (300 g), carrots (200 g), onion (200 g), garlic (50 g), tomato paste (70 g), sour cream (200 g), fresh herbs (40 g), and seasoning.

Meanwhile, in Poland, an equivalent set of ingredients costs nearly twice as much — 306.9 UAH (29.02 PLN).

"The Borscht Index reflects the economic situation in a country and shows how accessible basic food products are for an average Ukrainian. We can see that despite the widespread myth that food in Poland is cheaper, Ukraine still remains a country with lower prices for essential groceries. Of course, this is related to differences in the standard of living and average incomes," — says Anna Dzhabolda, Head of the Recruitment Department at Gremi Personal

The analytics centre also draws attention to the differences between minimum and average wages in Ukraine and Poland.

In Poland, the minimum wage as of July 2024 stands at approximately $738 (4,300 PLN gross, equivalent to around 3,060 PLN net after taxes). In Ukraine, the minimum wage as of April 2024 is $200 (8,000 UAH gross, after taxation).

As for the average wage, in Poland it amounts to approximately $1,450 (around 6,000 PLN net after taxes), while in Ukraine it stands at around $580 (21,800 UAH).

Analysts note that the Borscht Index illustrates the difference in the cost of living between Ukraine and Poland, but this does not mean that one country is unambiguously cheaper or more expensive to live in. A thorough analysis requires a comprehensive approach that accounts for all prices, incomes, and expenditures in order to understand the true picture of the population's well-being in each country.