In 2026, real wages in Czechia are expected to rise at one of the fastest rates in the European Union. According to the Salary Trends 2025–26 report published by Employment Conditions Abroad (ECA), real wages are forecast to increase by 2.7 percent. As a result, Czechia will rank second among EU member states. The same level of growth is projected for Bulgaria and Poland. This trend highlights a broader recovery in purchasing power after several years of high inflation.
Low Inflation Drives Salary Gains
Moreover, the outlook is supported by a favorable inflation environment. The International Monetary Fund forecasts inflation in Czechia at 2.3 percent in 2026. This estimate is also cited by Euronews and in the ECA report. Thanks to this limited inflation, wage increases are expected to translate into real income gains. Nominal wages are projected to grow by around 5 percent in 2026, compared with roughly 2.5 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, only Hungary is forecast to outperform Czechia, with real wage growth of 3.5 percent. By contrast, neighboring Slovakia is expected to see growth of about 1.9 percent.
Recovery Still Incomplete After Covid-19
However, economists warn that the recovery remains partial. Although real wages are rising, they have not yet made up for the losses caused by the post-pandemic inflation surge. For example, Czech economist Petr Studnička, speaking to TN.cz, noted that salary levels are still below those seen before Covid-19. In particular, he stressed that real wages have not returned to either pre-2019 or pre-2021 levels.
Current Salaries and Regional Differences
Finally, recent data from the Czech Statistical Office provide context for the current situation. In the third quarter of 2025, the average gross monthly salary reached CZK 48,295, up by CZK 3,194 year on year. Prague continues to record the highest average wages at CZK 61,129. On the other hand, the Karlovy Vary Region reports the lowest average salaries, at just over CZK 41,500. Globally, the ECA report shows that Turkey will lead real wage growth with an increase of 8.1 percent, while Romania is the only country expected to see a decline.
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