Opinion Estonia’s latest pulse (fielded 10-13 November 2025 among 947 adults) finds 62% now place cost-of-living pressures ahead of every other national issue, nudging security out of the top slot for the first time in two years.
The squeeze shows up in everyday trade-offs: 71% of respondents in Ida-Viru and Põlva counties say they have delayed major purchases since September, compared with 55% in Tallinn and Tartu. Younger renters point to rent spikes and transport fares, while retirees cite medication costs and winter heating prepayments, but both cohorts say the price surge feels more immediate than distant geopolitical risks.
Confidence in official responses remains brittle. Only 29% believe the national government has a coherent anti-inflation plan, yet 48% give passing marks to municipal pilots such as subsidised district heating in Pärnu and energy-audit stipends in Võru. Respondents warn these programs must scale quickly to make a dent before January utility bills arrive.
Alongside the headline concern, the tracker shows where people want relief: 57% prioritise direct support on electricity and heating bills, 44% want faster indexation of pensions and child benefits, and 39% now support windfall taxes on high-margin energy firms. Security and defense still rank second overall, with 41% citing it among top-three worries, but economic strain clearly dominates the conversation heading into 2025 budgets.