What if you were born in Slovakia?

If you had grown up in Slovakia instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Bratislava could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Bojnice Castle. Photo: Studiowacho, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Slovakia

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in EUR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Slovakia: EUR 1,960Rs 603,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 567
Transport (public transport): EUR 100
Food: EUR 283
Saved: EUR 294

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Slovakia: EUR 4,510Rs 1,390,000
Rent (suburbs): EUR 1,150
Transport (public transport): EUR 230
Food: EUR 766
Saved: EUR 676

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Slovakia: EUR 7,300Rs 2,250,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 1,790
Transport (car): EUR 684
Food: EUR 894
Saved: EUR 2,050

Try it with my own income

A day in Bratislava

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Bratislava, a city of snowy winters around -1°C and warm summers around 23°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Slovak at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be bryndzové halušky: potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon.
Evening
You get home with EUR 676 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the mountains, and skiing in winter.

Slovakia compared with Pakistan

	Slovakia	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.8× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	78 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	14 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	5.4%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	11°C	26°C
Languages	Slovak	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	EUR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Slovakia, living in Slovakia and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Slovakia?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around EUR 4,510 a month at the same level in Slovakia (about Rs 1,390,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Slovakia more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.8 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Slovakia?

Mainly Slovak. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Slovakia?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Slovakia page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.