Hungary outperforms Czechia and Slovakia in fresh EU wages ranking
According to a recent European Union report, Hungary has climbed ahead of Czechia and Slovakia in the latest EU ranking of minimum wages. When adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), Hungary now sits 17th among 22 EU countries with statutory minimum wages, reflecting modest gains in real terms.
Fresh EU ranking
As Növekedés writes, a recent EU ranking has placed Hungary 17th out of 22 countries in terms of minimum wage based on purchasing power parity (PPP). This ranking suggests that while Hungary performs modestly when price differences are considered, the actual monthly wage, without adjustment for living costs, places the country near the bottom, only ahead of Bulgaria. Six EU nations have now surpassed the EUR 1,500 mark, while Hungary remains among the ten countries below EUR 1,000 in nominal terms.
Hungary second among V4
Interestingly, the Eurostat data also include figures from the United States, with a PPP-adjusted minimum wage of EUR 837, lower than Hungary’s. Since 2010, Hungary’s minimum wage has increased 2.6 times in PPP terms, outpaced by Romania and Bulgaria. Still, Luxembourg and the Netherlands remain the highest earners, with minimum wages of EUR 2,638 and EUR 2,193, respectively. Among the Visegrád Four (V4), Hungary ranks second in PPP growth, following Poland.
Despite improvements, many neighbouring countries have overtaken Hungary. Romania’s minimum wage, for instance, has now surpassed Hungary’s when adjusted for purchasing power. Similarly, workers in Lithuania, Slovenia, and Croatia also earn more on this basis. Within the EU, only five countries report PPP-adjusted minimum wages below EUR 1,000, and the Hungarian figure, though slightly higher than the US, still reflects a lower-income bracket.
Hungary outperforms Czechia
Another dimension to consider when looking at this EU ranking is the proportion of workers earning minimum wage. According to October 2022 Eurostat data, 10% of Hungarian workers fall into this category, among the highest in the EU. Bulgaria leads at 13%, while the Czech Republic, with a lower PPP wage than Hungary, sees just 2.6%. This raises questions about undeclared wages and regional disparities within Hungary.
Read also:
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- Are you considering retirement in Hungary? It’s worth thinking twice
Featured image: depositphotos.com
How do Hungary’s metrics compare to many of the happiest countries in the world and many of the most miserable?
The former are far below us while the latter blow us away.
So, why are they so much happier and sadder, respectively?
Because wages, P.P.P., and other B.S. does not generate happiness.
Funny how you should mention “happiest countries”.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/03/20/the-20-happiest-countries-in-the-world-for-2025-according-to-a-new-report/
“The United States has hit a new low, falling to number 24—its worst ranking since the World Happiness Report was created in 2012.”
If you thought 24th was bad – do go and find Hungary in the report:
https://worldhappiness.report/