From January 1, 2026, the lowest statutory monthly wage in Serbia will amount to 64,554 dinars, which is approximately 551 euros, the Government of Serbia announced after unions, employers, and state representatives failed to reach a joint agreement on the amount of the minimum wage.

The current minimum hourly rate will increase to 371 dinars, and the tax-free portion of wages will be raised to around 34,200 dinars, which means that the 10.1 percent increase from January will further improve the income of workers who have so far been receiving the minimum wage, writes Biznis.rs.

Trade union organizations requested a significantly higher amount, 70,000 dinars, or around 600 euros, and at the same time asked for negotiations on wages in the public sector to continue in parallel. Employers, meanwhile, believe that the proposed increase is sufficient and that it additionally burdens business operations, especially for smaller companies. As of October 1 this year, an additional increase in the minimum wage was introduced from 53,592 to 58,630 dinars, that is, the hourly rate from 308 to 337 dinars, which previously raised the basic minimum wage by 9.4 percent.

According to data from the sector, around 90,000 employers pay minimum wages, and with the new amount of 64,554 dinars many who were receiving around 60,000 dinars will automatically enter the category of minimum wage earners, thereby equalizing differences in the lowest incomes. However, there are still significant differences between regions; for example, in the south and southeast of the country average wages amount to around 73,000 dinars, which means that from January the minimum wage will be very close to average earnings in those areas.

In 2026, the minimum wage in Croatia will amount to 1,050 euros gross per month. This means that the Croatian minimum wage is almost twice as high as the Serbian one, which significantly affects the relative purchasing power of workers. However, when comparing them, differences in living costs, tax burdens, and general economic conditions in both countries should be taken into account.