Estonians need 640 euros a month for “normal life”’

Jul 24, 2006
By TBT staff

TALLINN - Estonians believe they need at least 10,000 kroons (640 euros) per month to live a “normal life”.

While the gross monthly pay averaged about 9,000 kroons, many believe this is not enough to live normally, a poll published in the daily Postimees newspaper reports.

Estonians are finding it more difficult to afford household items, as costs increase to match European standards, while wages remain relatively stagnant.
The survey commissioned by the paper was carried out by TNS Emor pollsters, with the aim of finding out Estonians' opinion on how big one's monthly net wages should be to be able to lead a "normal life." It was up to each respondent to decide what "normal life" constituted, the paper observes.
Some 28 percent of the more than 500 respondents aged 15-74 found one needs a net monthly income of 10,000 kroons.
In the opinion of 24 percent of the polled, it is sufficient to pocket between 5,001 and 9,999 kroons a month, and 16 percent think one cannot manage well with an income below 15,000 kroons.
It appeared from the survey that 32 percent of women find 10,000 kroons and 31 percent, 5,000-10,000 kroons a sufficient income.
Of men 27 percent thought an income of at least 15,000 kroons would secure a "normal life," Postimees reports.
Data by the Statistical Office show that average gross monthly pay in the first quarter of 2006 was 8,591 kroons and only a few percent of wage earners received 10,000 kroons a month in 2004. Last year the average gross monthly pay was the highest in Tallinn at 9,462 kroons and the lowest in the northeastern Ida-Virumaa region at 6,057 kroons, the daily notes.

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