We know Estonia
9.1.2023 | Estonia

Estonians better than other Europeans at managing their household finances

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Alexander Grey / Unsplash

Estonians better than other Europeans at managing their household finances

 

According to a survey conducted by Intrum, Estonian consumers are faring better than other Europeans on average when it comes to managing their household finances in several key aspects.

The survey found that while 77 per cent of Estonians reported that their bills were increasing faster than their income, only 10 per cent of households were left with less than 10 per cent of their income after paying bills. This is significantly lower than the European average, where 25 per cent of households are left with such a small amount of disposable income. 33 per cent of Estonian respondents say that over half of their salary is left after paying all their household bills, which is the second highest number of all the countries surveyed by Intrum.

Estonians are also the most likely to have paid all their bills on time, with 85 per cent saying they hadn’t made any late payments. Across Europe, a quarter of people (26 per cent) have borrowed money or reached their credit card limit to pay bills in the last six months compared with 27 per cent in 2021. In Estonia, this figure is significantly lower at 14 per cent.

According to Ilva Valeika, Managing Director at Intrum Baltics, the survey also found that renters in Estonia are faring worse than homeowners or mortgage holders when it comes to disposable income. “However, overall Estonians are still doing better in several key areas of managing personal finances than a lot of their European counterparts, who are struggling with higher levels of debt and less disposable income,” said Valeika.

 

To learn more about this and similar topics
Borrowing Credit Cards Estonians Household Finances Intrum Managing Finances Managing Household Finances Paying Bills

17.3.2026 | Estonia

Estonia Made an Impression at the Gastro Helsinki Fair

Estonia Made an Impression at the Gastro Helsinki Fair

Estonian food producers and companies from the food events sector made a strong showing last week in Helsinki, where … Read more

17.3.2026 | Estonia

Estonia to Test Air Raid Sirens Across Country

Estonia to Test Air Raid Sirens Across Country

Following Monday’s multiple test notifications to cell phones, Wednesday, 18 March will see a full-fledged and nationwide test of … Read more

16.3.2026 | Estonia

Now We Travel to the Areas West of Tallinn

Now We Travel to the Areas West of Tallinn

In Facebook travel groups about Tallinn, questions about destinations in the capital’s surrounding areas appear more and more often. … Read more

13.3.2026 | Estonia

Estonian Invention Becomes Part of the Finnish National Museum Collection

Estonian Invention Becomes Part of the Finnish National Museum Collection

The Finnish National Museum has expanded its collection with a delivery robot like the ones that have been transporting … Read more

12.3.2026 | Estonia

Tartu Is a University City Brimming With Culture

Tartu Is a University City Brimming With Culture

Tartu is Estonia’s second-largest city and, as a medieval town, it has a cultural history stretching back hundreds of … Read more

6.3.2026 | Estonia

Lahemaa Tourism Developers Honoured at ITB Fair

Lahemaa Tourism Developers Honoured at ITB Fair

The Lahemaa region, located east of Tallinn, is known for its national park and for the Soviet-era military sites … Read more

1.3.2026 | Beauty

Telliskivi’s Last Old Giant Is Renewed

Telliskivi’s Last Old Giant Is Renewed

In Tallinn’s Telliskivi district, the shops, restaurants, events, and museums of the Creative City have long been centred around … Read more

24.2.2026 | History

24 February Is Estonia’s Independence Day—and What Else?

24 February Is Estonia’s Independence Day—and What Else?

Why is Estonia’s Independence Day celebrated specifically on 24 February and not the previous day, when the country’s Declaration … Read more