To grasp the importance of the Cost-of-Living Allowance (CoLA) for public employees and office-holders, look at the state payroll from 2022 onwards. CoLA acts as an automatic monthly uplift that partially offsets price increases. Because it is calculated on salary, it scales with income, benefiting higher-paid posts the most, including senior officials.
Standout increases at the top
Budget comparisons since 2022 are revealing. The President of the Republic’s net monthly pay (after statutory deductions and including allowances) has risen by €1,440: from €7,663 (2022) to €9,103 (from 1/1/2026). The heads of the Legal Service and judges at the Constitutional and Supreme Courts record €834 higher net pay over the same period, moving from €8,321 (2022) to €9,155 (from 1/1/2026).
The 2026 state budget includes a €2 million line to cover gratuities for MPs who either do not seek re-election or fail to return to parliament. Separately, the pensions sub-group carries €5.4 million to pay pensions to serving and former officials of the Republic. The number of beneficiaries is not listed in the budget, but officials indicate it does not exceed 200.
Net monthly pay by key office (2022-2026)
(All figures are net per month, after statutory deductions and including allowances; other income or tax reliefs are not considered.)
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President of the Republic: €7,663 (2022), €8,611 (2023), €8,889 (2024), €9,050 (2025), €9,103 (from 1/1/2026).
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President of the House: €6,287 → €7,010 → €7,231 → €7,359 → €7,403.
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Ministers/Deputy Ministers/Government Spokesperson: €5,163 → €5,719 → €5,883 → €5,981 → €6,006.
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MPs/Religious Representatives: €4,460 → €4,914 → €4,991 → €5,211 → €5,286.
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Attorney-General & Deputy AG: €8,321 → €8,633 → €8,864 → €9,004 → €9,155.
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President & Judges of the Constitutional/Supreme Court: €8,321 → €8,633 → €8,864 → €9,004 → €9,155.
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Presidents of District/Administrative/Commercial Courts: €6,773 → €6,993 → €7,168 → €7,273 → €7,388.
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Senior District Judge: €5,602 → €5,813 → €5,979 → €6,080 → €6,190.
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Auditor-General: €6,097 → €6,728 → €6,895 → €6,993 → €7,101.
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PSC (ΕΔΥ) President: €6,114 → €6,789 → €6,960 → €7,062 → €7,171; Members: €4,671 → €5,147 → €5,291 → €5,377 → €5,470.
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EEC (ΕΕΥ) President: €5,861 → €6,493 → €6,653 → €6,748 → €6,851; Members: €4,355 → €4,781 → €4,912 → €4,989 → €5,075.
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Deputy Commander, National Guard: €4,911 → €5,398 → €5,552 → €5,642 → €5,741.
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Commissioners (typical band: Legislation / Children’s Rights / Environment / Citizen / Equality / Mountain Communities): €4,569-€5,163 (2022) rising to €5,304–€6,006 (from 1/1/2026).
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Data Protection Commissioner: €5,289 → €5,809 → €5,959 → €6,044 → €6,139.
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Ombudsman (Administration): €5,781 → €6,400 → €6,557 → €6,649 → €6,751.
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Transparency Commissioner: — (2022) → €6,032 (2023) → €6,200 (2024) → €6,295 (2025) → €6,315.
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Deputy Government Spokesperson: €3,296 → €3,561 → €3,648 → €3,714 → €3,741.
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Internal Audit Commissioner: €4,398 → €4,832 → €4,965 → €5,043 → €5,130.
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State Aid Control Commissioner: €3,835 → €4,150 → €4,250 → €4,308 → €4,313.
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Competition Commission President (ΕΠΑ): €6,292 → €6,931 → €7,096 → €7,190 → €7,295; Members: €3,260 → €3,505 → €3,589 → €3,657 → €3,724.
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Director, President’s Office: €5,461 → €6,032 → €6,200 → €6,295 → €6,315.
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Accountant-General, Chief Registrar, Chief of Police, Ministry & House Secretaries-General: €6,097 → €6,728 → €6,895 → €6,993 → €7,101.
CoLA has shielded public-sector pay from inflation, but by construction it amplifies gains at the top. The latest budget lines, €5.4m for officials’ pensions and €2m for MPs’ gratuities in 2026, underscore the fiscal footprint of high office at a time when living-cost pressures remain acute for households lower down the pay scale.