The minimum wage in Ukraine in 2026 is UAH 8,647, while the statutory minimum in Germany reaches €13.90 per hour. A Ukrainian woman living in Germany compared these amounts and her own living expenses in a video on TikTok.
Minimum wage in Ukraine in 2026 is UAH 8,647
Since January 1, the minimum wage in Ukraine is UAH 8,647 per month or UAH 52 per hour. This amount is established by the law on the state budget for 2026. This is the accrued amount before taxes, not the funds that the employee receives on the card.
In terms of the current exchange rate, this is about 170 euros. At the same time, direct comparison with Germany does not show the real purchasing power: taxes, rent, prices for services, transport, and health insurance differ.
In the video, a Ukrainian woman Lyudmila called the Ukrainian minimum wage "a struggle for survival," because this amount needs to cover basic monthly expenses. Her assessment reflects personal experience, not the official expenditure structure of Ukrainian families.
For a full-time employee, the minimum wage is the legally established lower boundary of remuneration. Actual income may be higher due to additional payments, allowances, bonuses, and work beyond the established norm. At the same time, with part-time employment, the monthly amount may be less, but hourly pay should not fall below UAH 52.
Minimum wage in Germany in 2026 is tied to hours
In Germany, since January 1, 2026, the statutory minimum rate is €13.90 gross per hour. With full-time employment, this is approximately €2,400 before taxes per month, but the exact amount depends on the number of hours worked.
How much an employee will receive "net" cannot be determined by a single figure. The net salary is affected by tax class, marital status, presence of children, medical, pension, and social insurance. Therefore, the about €1,600 mentioned in the video is a possible but not universal calculation.
The author of the video estimated the basic expenses of one person in the eastern regions of Germany approximately as follows:
rent with utilities — about €500;
electricity and internet — about €100;
food — approximately €200;
transport — up to €200;
clothing and other purchases — another €100–150.
These expenses can differ significantly depending on the city. Housing in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, or Frankfurt is usually more expensive, so the remainder after mandatory payments will be smaller. Family composition, the need to use a car, childcare costs, and the rental format also matter.
At the same time, the German "minimum wage" is an hourly guarantee, while the Ukrainian one is established as a monthly and hourly minimum. Therefore, they can be correctly compared only taking into account taxes, working time, and the cost of living, not by the nominal amount in euros.
Officially, the minimum rate in Germany in 2026 increased from €12.82 to €13.90 per hour. According to the German government, it should rise to €14.60 in 2027.