How Croatia’s minimum wage compares to the rest of Europe

Minimum wages across Europe at the start of 2025 show significant differences between countries.

According to the latest data, Luxembourg has the highest minimum wage at €2,638 a month, followed by Ireland (€2,283), the Netherlands (€2,193), and Germany (€2,161).

On the other end of the scale, the lowest minimum wages are in Moldova (€285), Albania (€408), and Bulgaria (€551).

Croatia sits in the middle with a minimum gross wage of €970, HRT reports.

Many countries have increased their minimum wages in 2025 to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.

Romania saw the biggest increase of 22%, bringing its minimum wage to €814. Other significant increases were recorded in Bulgaria (€551), Lithuania (€1,038), and the Czech Republic (€826).

Croatia also raised its minimum wage to €970.

While these wage increases provide some relief, the cost of living continues to rise across most of Europe. In Croatia, the average monthly expenses for a family of four are estimated at €2,616, while an individual needs around €747 per month to cover basic living costs.

Housing, energy, and utilities remain the biggest household expenses in the European Union, further impacting financial stability.

The data comes from Euronews and Eurostat, with figures for Slovenia and Spain taken from July 2024.