The difference in salaries across European Union countries is significant. People who travel frequently or those seeking new places to live due to the war in Ukraine may not be aware of which cities in the world are the most expensive. Often, the cost of living and prices for goods and services do not align with salary levels, making it important to know where one can earn more in Europe.
This is reported by Finway
Highest Salaries in Europe
According to data from Euronews, in January 2025, the minimum salary in Europe ranges from 551 to 2,638 euros, depending on the country. Since not all 27 EU countries have a fixed minimum wage, only 22 countries are included in the ranking.
No one in Europe earns more than in Luxembourg, where the minimum wage is 2,638 euros. Ireland and the Netherlands follow, with salaries of 2,282 euros and 2,193 euros respectively. Germany, with a minimum wage of 2,161 euros, ranks fourth, while Belgium with 2,070 euros is fifth. France ranks last in the list, with a salary of 1,802 euros.
Lowest Salaries in Europe
In contrast to countries with high salaries, there are those where minimum payments are very low. The lowest salaries in Europe are found in:
- Czech Republic — 826 euros
- Slovakia — 816 euros
- Romania — 814 euros
- Latvia — 740 euros
- Hungary — 707 euros
- Bulgaria — 551 euros
It is worth noting that in Poland, the minimum wage is 1,091 euros, which exceeds payments in some other EU countries.
Besides the figures themselves, it is important to consider the purchasing power parity (PPP) index, which allows economists to assess what goods can be purchased for the corresponding amount of money in different countries. For example, the same 100 euros in Germany and Bulgaria may have different purchasing power.
The company Qery, which specializes in analyzing social and economic trends, notes that according to purchasing power standards, the minimum wage in Germany is 1,992 PPP, making it the highest in Europe.
Estonia, on the other hand, ranks last with 878 PPP at a minimum wage of 886 euros.