The Difference in Partner Income Does Not Represent a Problem If It Is Not Greater Than 1000 Kuna

The difference in income is a potential source of disagreements or even jealousy among life partners. Do partners know each other’s income, how do they react when those amounts are higher than theirs, and how do they share the costs of shared life? This was investigated by MojPosao in collaboration with the MojaPlaca.hr service.

As many as 62% of respondents know the exact amount of their partner’s income, while 28% approximately know how much their partner earns. Only 11% of respondents do not know their partner’s income. However, men are less informed about their partners’ income levels – 14% of men do not know their partner’s income, while the same is true for 8% of women.

Most respondents have no problem with a partner earning more

About one-fifth of men (20%) and women (18%) live with a partner who has the same income level as they do. Women predominantly (54%) live with a partner who has a higher income than they do. Only a quarter of women (24%) live with a partner who has a lower income, and four percent live with a partner who currently has no income.

When it comes to men, 38% live with a partner who has a lower income, 30% live with a partner who earns more than they do, and 12% of men have a partner who is currently not earning.

The majority of respondents (77%) do not mind or would not mind if their partner earns more than they do. For 5% of respondents, such a situation is not problematic if it is temporary, while 5% admit to having issues with their partner’s higher earnings. 14% of respondents have no opinion on this topic.

Of the respondents for whom a partner’s higher earnings represent a ‘problem’, 40% could tolerate a salary difference if it is not greater than one thousand kuna.

– “Because the man is the head of the family, not the woman.” and “Because I am a male person,” are just some of the comments from respondents who are bothered by their partner’s higher earnings.

Men are still responsible for larger financial investments

When asked who should earn more in a relationship/marriage, the majority of respondents (76%) answered that it does not matter, while 14% believe that both men and women should earn equally. For 9% of respondents, it is more natural for men to earn more, while only 1% of respondents believe it is more natural for women to earn more.
Both men and women equally believe it does not matter who earns more in a relationship/marriage. 15% of women and 14% of men believe they should earn equally, while 10% of men and 8% of women believe it is more natural for men to earn more. 

When it comes to the household budget, the majority of respondents (61%) have a joint fund, while 22% share expenses proportionally to their incomes. 17% of respondents share expenses equally.

According to the research results, more men (38%) are responsible for larger financial investments such as buying cars or household appliances. 15% of women are responsible for the same. Almost a third of women (31%) would be bothered if their partner decided to be unemployed and dedicate themselves to the family, while the same is stated by 14% of men.