Slovakia
Edenred TRC Index anonymously monitors spending on employee meal cards. It shows that as of June 30, 2025, employees paid an average of €8,51 for lunch, while in January it was €8,39. The price increase occurred in six out of eight regions, with the exceptions of the Žilina and Trnava regions.
Košice leads, Trenčín pays the least
The most expensive lunches have long been in the Košice region (€9,57), followed by the Nitra region (€9,27) and the Žilina region (€8,81). At the opposite end is the Trenčín region with an average spend of €6,85.
"Increased lunch expenses represent a noticeable change for many employees. Especially in regions where there is less choice of catering establishments, people may perceive that they will suddenly pay tens of cents more for the same meal," recalls Lívia Bachratá, Director of Public Affairs at Edenred.
Consumers understand price increases, but...
Although a lower 5 percent VAT has been in effect on food consumed in establishments since January, food bills are not decreasing. This is due to ongoing inflation, but also to the new transaction tax introduced in April 2025, which was fully reflected in final prices. The reduced VAT is thus lost in other mandatory fees and consumers pay more.
Our May survey showed that 66 percent of people consider the rise in prices in the grocery store to be unpleasant but understandable, while 17 percent see it as completely justified.
"Consumers are sensitive to price changes, but they also understand that businesses have limited options to absorb new costs without impacting the final price," adds L. Bachratá.
Supporting employees in times of rising expenses
Higher lunch bills are impacting family budgets and opening up space for modern benefits. Edenred recommends that companies increase meal allowances or work with flexible digital benefit card top-ups so that the value of the benefit reflects real restaurant prices.
Moreover, the experience of HR teams indicates that a contribution to quality meals is one of the most rewarding motivational tools, because employees feel its value literally every working day.
Edenred is a reliable HR partner
The TRC index is not just a statistic - at Edenred, we use it as a real compass when setting benefits that respond to current challenges in the field of human resources.
In times of rising prices, we recommend that companies regularly review the amount of meal allowance and monitor employee feedback. Our experts are available to HR specialists not only in the form of webinars, but also individual consultations that will help tailor benefits to different companies and their situations.
Our experience shows that even small adjustments to the reward system can have a big impact on employee satisfaction and loyalty.
Investment in people will pay off
Lunch prices are unlikely to fall, but companies can use Edenred tools to mitigate their impact. Employees who feel supported by their employer are more loyal and motivated – and that is a benefit that cannot be expressed in euros.
