Portugal's minimum wage declines in global standings
In the European Union, the minimum wage varies significantly, with Bulgaria offering the lowest wage of 551 euros per month, while Luxembourg boasts the highest at 2,704 euros. Interestingly, a group of countries, including Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Lithuania, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, and Hungary, have minimum wages between 1,000 and 1,500 euros in purchasing power parity.
Among this group, Greece has emerged as the frontrunner, with its minimum wage standing at €1,027 monthly as of April 2025, surpassing the €1,000 mark. Portugal, on the other hand, ranks slightly below, with a minimum wage of €1,015 per month.
This shift in ranking can be traced back to 2024, when Greece decided not to increase its minimum wage at the beginning of the year, allowing Portugal to rank 11th in the European rankings. However, Portugal's minimum wage was later increased to 870 euros at the beginning of 2025, pushing Greece back into the lead.
It's worth noting that Greece did not increase its minimum wage at the start of 2025 either, but made the adjustment in the spring. The increase in Portugal's minimum wage was a part of an agreement to increase incomes signed in the Social Concertation.
Interestingly, five Member States do not have a guaranteed minimum wage: Denmark, Italy, Austria, Finland, and Sweden.
In contrast, Slovakia, Czechia, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Estonia are in the last group with minimum wages below 1,000 euros in purchasing power parity, with Estonia having the lowest minimum wage in the European Union.
These wage figures and rankings provide a snapshot of the minimum wage landscape in the EU for 2025. While Portugal and Greece are separated by a small margin, Greece's minimum wage appears to be stronger relative to many EU countries, typically ranking above Portugal, which has a higher gap between wages and living costs.
In the realm of personal-finance, Greece has a stronger minimum wage compared to Portugal, with the former standing at €1,027 and the latter at €1,015 per month. These figures are derived from businesses in Portugal and Greece, demonstrating a difference in the finance sector between the two countries.
