Main points
- In 2026, the cost of an Easter basket in Ukraine increased by 14.4% compared to the previous year, reaching 1903.19 hryvnia for a family of 4 people.
- The main factors behind the increase in product prices are the consequences of military operations, complicated production and supply, and rising energy prices.
Cost of an Easter basket / Photo 24 Channel
The cost of a traditional Easter basket in Ukraine has increased significantly in 2026. Due to the increase in the price of products, Ukrainians are forced to save even on the festive table.
What are the prices of the main products in the basket?
Director of the National Research Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics”, Academician of the NAAS Yuriy Lupenko notes that for the fifth year in a row, Ukraine will celebrate one of the largest Christian holidays – Easter – under martial law. According to him, this is unlikely to allow many Ukrainian families to celebrate it traditionally – with the preparation and consecration of the Easter basket, gathering at the festive table, tasting painted eggs and the most delicious culinary creation – Paska.
Yuriy Lupenko
Director of the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics”, Academician of the NAAS
The purchasing power of the average Ukrainian is constantly decreasing. This is especially true of the affected regions, where battles with the Russian aggressors took place and continue. Therefore, Ukrainians will be forced to save money in preparation for Easter. For those who will have the opportunity, in particular, to prepare traditional dishes, we have calculated this year's cost of an Easter basket at average prices as of the end of March 2026.
According to calculations by scientists at the Institute of Agrarian Economics, in April 2026, traditional Easter cake, eggs, homemade sausage, bacon, lard, butter, soft and hard cheeses, horseradish, and salt will cost a family of 4 about 1,903.19 hryvnias, which is 14.4% more expensive than last year, when the same set of products cost 1,663.26 hryvnias.
The cost of the main component of the Easter basket – homemade Easter cakes according to the traditional recipe (700 grams of flour, 6 eggs, 150 grams of butter, 300 grams of milk, 400 grams of sugar, 40 grams of yeast, 200 grams of raisins) – will be 266.89 hryvnias per 1 kilogram , which is 14.6% higher than the cost of last year’s Easter cake (232.96 hryvnias). Such an increase in the price of the symbol of our Easter is due to a significant increase in prices for all food items: eggs (+19.3%), butter (+6.8%), milk (+49.6%), flour (+38.6%), yeast (+12.8%) and raisins (14.1%). The only product that has become cheaper compared to last year is sugar (-18%), noted Yuriy Lupenko.
Please note! Yuriy Lupenko notes that ready-made Easter cakes in stores and supermarkets will cost more, because their price includes delivery costs, trade margins, and depends on the ingredients and decoration of the pastry.
Which products in the basket are the most expensive?
The most expensive components of the Easter basket, according to the specialist, traditionally remain meat products : homemade sausage (0.5 kilograms) – 287.5 hryvnias (550-600 hryvnias per 1 kilogram), bacon (0.5 kilograms) – 353 hryvnias (687-725 hryvnias per 1 kilogram). The cost of lard remained practically at the level of last year – 0.5 kilograms will cost up to 123 hryvnias at the rate of 220-270 hryvnias per 1 kilogram. Compared to 2025, the cost of bacon increased by 16.5%, homemade sausage – by 35.3%, and bacon – by 0.4%.
Among dairy products, you will have to pay the most for hard cheese (0.5 kilograms) – 298 hryvnias (539-650 hryvnias per 1 kilogram), butter (0.5 kilograms) – 292 hryvnias (110-120 hryvnias per 200-gram pack) and soft cheese (0.5 kilograms), which will cost 157.5 hryvnias (300-330 hryvnias per 1 kilogram).
Compared to 2025, the cost of hard cheese increased by 3.7%, soft cheese by 31.3%, and butter by 3.1%.
The price of horseradish (200 grams) will be 31 hryvnia (28-34 hryvnia) and will depend on the manufacturer and flavoring ingredients, the cost of salt (150-200 g) is also symbolic – 6.72 hryvnia.
Important! Yuriy Lupenko noted that if the traditional Easter basket is supplemented with other, optional ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, red wine (Cahors), its cost will increase to 2,347.94 hryvnias. This is 16.8% higher than the cost of last year's basket of the same composition, which was 2,009.76 hryvnias.
Compared to the same period in 2025, vegetable prices have increased significantly. If last year greenhouse tomatoes (0.5 kilograms) cost up to 78 hryvnias (126-189 hryvnias per 1 kilogram), then this spring season their price is 187-278 hryvnias per kilogram. The price of greenhouse cucumbers is currently 175-275 hryvnias per kilogram, which is almost 38.5% higher than last year's figures. The price of apples depends on the variety and is on average 25 hryvnias per 0.5 kilograms (45-55 hryvnias per 1 kilogram), which is 17.4% more expensive than last year.
For a bottle of church wine “Cahors” you will have to pay an average of 189 hryvnias (160-220 hryvnias per bottle).
What caused the increase in the value of the basket?
Yuriy Lupenko explains that the increase in the cost of the Easter basket is clearly caused by the consequences of military operations – significant monetary and material losses to the domestic economy and Ukrainian families, reduced production, higher energy prices, complications in the internal movement of products, and uncertainty for many people even in their immediate plans.
This is especially noticeable in combat zones, temporary occupation, and large concentrations of displaced persons. As a result, most Ukrainians will be forced to save on their traditional set of products – some by reducing the amount of products in their basket, others by giving up the more expensive part of it – homemade sausage, bacon, hard cheese, or by using cheaper products, and some will limit themselves to traditional Easter eggs and Easter cakes, at least for the consecration.
The scientist is convinced that caring people will help celebrate Easter both for those families from whom the war has taken away even the opportunity to organize this holiday on their own, and for our soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who courageously defend our Ukraine,
– says the specialist.
The current, extremely difficult period in history is hardening the Ukrainian people in the struggle for their state, their independence, and will certainly end with Victory over the Russian aggressor, concluded Yuriy Lupenko.
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