The minimum gross monthly wage in Albania was €408 at the end of June, according to the latest data updated by the European statistical institute Eurostat and cited by the Albanian publication Express. This minimum wage level is not only the lowest in Europe (excluding the former Soviet Union countries), but also much lower than in other Western Balkan countries.

The highest minimum wage in the region is in Montenegro - €670 per month. Compared to four years ago, this level has doubled.

After Montenegro, Serbia ranks second with a minimum wage of €618 per month, which is an increase of almost 70% compared to the first six months of 2021.

For the first time in several years, Eurostat has updated its data for North Macedonia, reporting a monthly wage of €584.

There is no updated data on minimum wages in Kosovo and Bosnia. Otherwise, in Bosnia, it varies from €511 to €660 per month.

In Albania, the minimum wage is about 34% lower than the average for these three countries. In 2023, it was increased several times, reaching 2,022 thousand lek, which is still valid today.

In the Eurostat table, the minimum wage in Albania has fictitiously increased from €376 in the first six months of 2023 to €408 today due to the depreciation of the euro. But in reality, purchasing power has decreased due to higher prices in the region, and for food - more than the European Union average.

Unlike Albania, countries in the region continue to rapidly increase minimum wages even after 2023, with the strongest change in Serbia, with 34% more than in the first six months of 2023. Montenegro has increased them by 25%, and North Macedonia by 20%.

According to Eurostat data, there are 22 countries in the European Union that have minimum wages. The highest level is in Luxembourg, at €2,700/month. Germany, a favorite destination for Albanians to work, is in fourth place, where the lowest gross monthly wage is €2,161. The lowest minimum wage in the EU is in Bulgaria, at €551 per month. In Turkey, the level is €558. | BGNES