The EU has released the first data on minimum wages for 2026. But what do these figures actually tell us about real living standards? You can read the article here: eures.europa.eu.

Minimum wages in the countries of the European Union as of 1 January 2026 ranged from about €620 per month in Bulgaria to €2,704 in Luxembourg, showing large differences between member states. A minimum wage is the lowest pay set by law or collective agreements that an employer can pay a worker; its purpose is to protect workers from excessively low pay. In 22 EU countries there is a national minimum wage, while in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden wage levels are mainly determined by agreements between employers and trade unions. However, wage figures alone do not reflect the real standard of living, as price levels and purchasing power differ between countries