Ukraine surprised with its position in the ranking of minimum wages among European countries

Ukraine ranked last in the ranking of minimum wages among European countries at the beginning of 2026. According to analytics from Euronews Business referencing Eurostat, the Ukrainian minimum wage is 173 euros per month — the lowest among all countries involved in the comparison. Euronews Business reports this here.

The study covers 22 EU countries and candidate states, showing a striking gap between minimum incomes: from over 2,700 euros in the richest countries to less than 200 euros in the laggards. At the same time, experts considered not only nominal sums but also real purchasing power.

Minimum Wages in Europe 2026: Where the Highest Payments Are Made

Eurostat divides countries into three groups by the level of minimum wage. The leaders with payments over 1,500 euros include the economically strongest EU states, such as Luxembourg, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

The group with wages from 1,000 to 1,500 euros includes Central and Southern European countries, including Poland, Spain, Lithuania, and Portugal. Workers in nearly half of European countries receive less than 1,000 euros. Ukraine, with 173 euros, closes this list.

The lowest minimum wages:

• Ukraine — 173 euros

• Moldova — 319 euros

• Albania — 517 euros

• Bulgaria — 620 euros.

Purchasing Power of Wages: How Real Cost of Living Changes

Analysts also recalculated minimum wages by purchasing power standard (PPS), which allows for more accurate comparisons of real living standards. In this ranking, the gap between countries narrows, with Germany emerging as the leader, even surpassing Luxembourg.

Certain countries, including Romania, rank significantly higher due to lower prices, while the Czech Republic and Estonia lose positions due to high living costs. According to experts from the European Trade Union Institute, the difference in minimum wages is determined by labor productivity, the strength of trade unions, and the structure of the economy.

Earlier, we reported that salaries of Ukrainian developers in November-December 2025