Slovaks are spending more on lunch deals in restaurants

Slovaks are now routinely paying up to €10 for lunch in restaurants. Perhaps surprisingly, the capital, Bratislava, is not the most expensive in this regard.

The highest average amount for lunch deals (which normally include a soup and main course) were paid by people in Trnava Region: €9.60 in the first quarter of 2024, reports news portal tvnoviny.sk. This region also experienced the highest year-on-year increase in employer meal contributions, according to the latest data from the Edenred TRC index. These payments, normally via a meal card, cover expenses for food, refreshments, or coffee.

The regional averages for the first quarter of this year were as follows:

• Trnava Region - €9.60

• Košice Region - €9.07

• Banská Bystrica Region - €8.88

• Žilina Region - €8.52

• Nitra Region - €8.30

• Bratislava Region - €8.23

• Prešov Region - €8.20

• Trenčín Region - €7.69

• Trnava Region - €9.60

"Food prices and meal costs are not decreasing, but rather increasing. Therefore, we recommend to employers to contribute to their employees' meals with an optimal meal subsidy amounting to €7.80, instead of the minimum meal subsidy, which is set at €5.85, because the quality of meals affects employees' performance and health," said Lívia Bachratá of Edenred.

Edenred is among the companies that supply meal cards to companies.

Košice was the most expensive last year

Based on figures for the whole of 2023, employees in Košice Region paid the most for lunches on average last year: €8.81. Regional average lunch costs in 2023 were as follows:

• Košice Region - €8.81

• Trnava Region - €8.76

• Prešov Region - €8.42

• Žilina Region - €8.40

• Banská Bystrica Region - €8.37

• Nitra Region - €8.18

• Bratislava Region - €8.02

• Trenčín Region - €7.53

"With the rise in prices, employers can help their employees by increasing contributions to meals or other non-financial benefits. Our surveys prove that employees who feel cared for by their employers are more loyal, perform better, and do not consider changing jobs," added Bachratá.