The minimum wage in Ukraine remains one of the lowest not only among EU countries but also among candidate countries. In 2026, the gap with European countries is measured in several times. This is reported by Fakty ICTV.
According to estimates from Euronews and Eurostat, about 12.8 million workers in 22 EU countries receive the minimum wage or even less. Meanwhile, in some countries, its level did not rise at all in 2026.
Minimum Wage in Ukraine 2026: Comparison with the EU
As of the beginning of 2026, the minimum wage in Ukraine is approximately 199 dollars (173 euros) per month. This is the lowest figure even among candidate countries for the EU.
For comparison:
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Moldova — 367 dollars
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Bulgaria — 713 dollars
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Czech Republic — 1,063 dollars
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Hungary — 964 dollars
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Romania — 914 dollars.
In Western European countries, the figures are significantly higher:
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Luxembourg — 3,110 dollars
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Ireland — 2,749 dollars
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Germany — 2,695 dollars
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Netherlands — 2,639 dollars
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Belgium — 2,429 dollars.
The difference between Ukraine and the leader of the ranking is nearly 16 times.
Salaries in Europe: Difference and Purchasing Power
Eurostat conditionally divides European countries into three groups by the level of minimum wage:
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more than 1,725 dollars
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from 1,150 to 1,725 dollars
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less than 1,150 dollars.
The middle category includes Spain, Poland, Portugal, Greece, and other countries. However, in half of the countries, the minimum wage does not exceed 1,150 dollars.
Importantly, nominal incomes do not fully reflect the real standard of living. The purchasing power index is used for this. After such recalculation, the gap between countries decreases, and some Eastern European countries rise in the rankings.
For example, Romania and Serbia improve their positions, while the Czech Republic and Estonia, on the contrary, drop.
Overall, there is a significant difference between Western and Eastern countries in Europe, which persists despite economic convergence.
Recall that the minimum wage in Poland after the full implementation of the EU directive may exceed 5,000 zlotys gross.