Despite a recent increase from 40,000 to 50,000 Albanian lek in January, the country’s gross minimum wage remains the lowest in the region and in Europe, excluding former Soviet states, according to new data from Eurostat.
The figures highlight a growing gap when measured in terms of purchasing power, reflecting faster price increases compared with wage growth in Albania.
For 2026, Albania’s gross minimum wage stands at 517 euros, up from 408 euros in the previous quarter, aided by favorable exchange rates. However, neighboring countries have made faster progress. Serbia leads the region with a minimum wage of 744 euros, followed by Montenegro at 670 euros, and North Macedonia at 586 euros. Kosovo has announced plans to raise its minimum wage in two phases to reach 500 euros later this year.
Eurostat’s data show that while Albania’s nominal minimum wage is only about 11.7% lower than North Macedonia’s, the gap widens significantly when adjusted for purchasing power standards (PPS). In PPS terms, Albania’s minimum wage is 708, compared with 1,069 for North Macedonia, 1,105 for Serbia, and 1,058 for Montenegro, indicating that citizens in neighboring countries can purchase significantly more with their wages.
The figures underscore ongoing inflationary pressures in Albania, where rising prices continue to outpace wage increases.