Minimum wage in the EU, July 2026: euros versus purchasing power

On 1 July 2026, 22 of the 27 EU countries had a national minimum wage. In euros, it ranged from €620 a month in Bulgaria to €2,771 in Luxembourg, a ratio of about 4.5 to 1. Converted into purchasing power, which takes local prices into account, the range was from 935 in Estonia to 2,164 in Germany, a ratio of about 2.3 to 1.

The two measures change not only the size of the gap but the order of the countries. These are Eurostat's figures, published at the end of July 2026.

How to read the two columns

Both columns are gross monthly minimum wages. Where the minimum wage is paid more than 12 times a year, Eurostat adjusts the monthly figure to include the extra payments.

The euro column is what the minimum wage is worth when converted at the exchange rate. The second column is in purchasing power standards (PPS), an artificial common currency that Eurostat calculates from the price levels of household consumption in each country. In Eurostat's words, one PPS can theoretically buy the same amount of goods and services in each country. Eurostat marks the July 2026 PPS figures as estimates.

The ranking

Greece and Portugal share 12th place in euros, both at €1,073.

Who moves, and why

Romania climbs eight places. At €825, its minimum wage is 20th in euros. In purchasing power it is 1,317, 12th, ahead of Portugal, Greece and Cyprus. Prices in Romania are low enough that the same amount of money buys considerably more.

Germany moves to first place. Luxembourg pays the most in euros, but it is also expensive. In purchasing power, Germany's 2,164 is slightly above Luxembourg's 2,108.

Ireland falls from second to fifth. Its €2,391 converts to 1,756 in purchasing power, below Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium. High prices take a large share of the difference.

Estonia drops to last place. At €946 it is 16th in euros, but its 935 in purchasing power is the lowest of the 22. Estonia's consumer price level was 101.2 in 2025, slightly above the EU average of 100, so its minimum wage stretches less.

Bulgaria is no longer last. It has the lowest minimum wage in euros, but in purchasing power its 993 is above Latvia and Estonia.

Five EU countries have no national minimum wage

Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland and Sweden do not appear in the table because they have no statutory national minimum wage. According to Eurostat, in these countries minimum wages are laid down by collective agreements for a range of specific sectors. The same applies in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, outside the EU.

This does not mean pay is unregulated: the floor depends on the sector and on the agreement that covers your job, so there is no single national figure to compare. If you are considering a job in one of these countries, ask the employer which collective agreement applies and what minimum it sets for your role.

What the figures do not tell you

• Gross, not net. These are amounts before income tax and social security contributions, which differ a lot between countries.
• National, not local. Purchasing power is based on national average prices. Rents in a capital can be well above the national level, and the PPS figure does not show that.
• A floor, not a typical wage. Many workers earn more than the minimum, so the table says little about average pay.
• Estimates in the PPS column. Eurostat flags the July 2026 PPS values as estimated, so small differences between neighbouring countries in that column may not be meaningful.

How to use this ranking

1. For a local job at or near the minimum wage, the purchasing power column is the better guide to living standards.
2. For comparing what an employer pays in cash, the euro column is the one to use, for example if you send money abroad.
3. Check the net amount. Ask the employer or the national tax authority what is left after deductions.
4. For the five countries without a national minimum, look up the collective agreement for your sector before comparing offers.

To estimate net pay and living costs for your own profession, the cost of living calculator covers all 50 countries on this site. Our ranking of the cheapest countries in the EU to live in shows the price levels behind these differences.