Minimum Wages in European Countries in 2026: Table and Comparison

Minimum Wage in Europe: Overview

The minimum wage is the lowest pay that employers are allowed by law to give their workers. In 2026, most European countries have a minimum wage, but the amount can be very different depending on the country.

In Western and Northern Europe, minimum wages are usually higher because these countries have stronger economies and higher living costs. In contrast, in Eastern Europe, the minimum wage is much lower. The difference between countries can be two to six times or even more, reflecting the overall income and economic level.

It’s important to note that there is no single European standard for minimum wage. Each country sets its own level and rules for changing it. In some countries, there is no legal minimum wage at all. Instead, pay is set through agreements between employers and trade unions.

Minimum wages vary a lot across Europe, so to compare them properly, you need to look at the actual figures and see where each country stands in the overall ranking.

Table of Minimum Wages in European Countries

Below is a comparison table of minimum wages in European countries for 2026. The figures are shown in euros per month before tax (gross), making it easy to compare pay levels between countries. The actual amount people take home can be quite different because of taxes, social contributions, and local living costs.

Table 1: Monthly Minimum Wages in European Countries in 2026 ¹

Comparing Minimum Wages in Europe

Comparing minimum wages across Europe shows a big gap between countries with high and low incomes. Countries can be roughly grouped by their minimum wage levels.

Highest minimum wages — over 1,800 € per month:

Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Medium level — 700 - 1,800 € per month:

Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain

Lowest minimum wages — less than 700 € per month:

Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine

The difference between the highest and lowest values is still very large: in leading countries, the minimum wage can be more than 4.5 times higher than in the least wealthy countries.

The chart below shows the difference in minimum wages across Europe in 2026. It clearly shows how big the gap is between countries with the highest and lowest minimum pay: Germany is near the top, while many Eastern European countries are much lower. This chart helps you quickly see where Germany stands and how wide the gap is in minimum incomes across Europe.

Chart 1. Comparison of Minimum Wages by Country in Europe
in 2026

Germany is firmly among the leaders and belongs to the group of countries with the highest minimum wages. It is far ahead of Eastern European countries and is on a similar level to the biggest economies in Western Europe.

Countries Without a Minimum Wage

Some European countries do not have a legal minimum wage. This does not mean that workers are left unprotected: pay levels are set through collective agreements between employers and trade unions. These countries include:

• Austria
• Denmark
• Finland
• Iceland
• Italy
• Norway
• Sweden
• Switzerland

In these countries, minimum pay rates are set by industry or profession rather than by the government. Often, these agreements cover most workers, so the real minimum pay can be similar to or even higher than in countries with a set legal minimum wage.