Key Facts: Greece vs Austria Wages
- Greece Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.04 USD)
- Austria Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Greece Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,400 /mo ($1,593.63 USD)
- Austria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,800 /mo ($4,325.55 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04), Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft) (2026-02-24)
Greece
Austria
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Austria, which has no statutory minimum wage, Greece mandates a wage floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,594/mo in Greece versus $4,326/mo in Austria, a 2.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Austria is 1.7x that of Greece, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Greece has lower GDP per capita ($44,327 vs $73,911). Greece's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Austria's 5.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Greece | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.31 $6.04 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €920 $1,047.24 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €12,880 $14,661.35 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,400 /mo $1,593.63 | €3,800 /mo $4,325.55 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,100 /mo $1,252.13 | €2,500 /mo $2,845.76 |
| Median individual income /yr | €12,800 /yr $14,570.29 | €33,500 /yr $38,133.18 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Greece is higher.
Work Week
- Greece
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.2x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours across 5 days (Labour Law). Overtime beyond 40 hours is compensated at 120% for the first 5 hours per week and 140% thereafter. In 2024, Greece introduced optional 6-day workweek legislation for certain industries, with the 6th day paid at 140%. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
- Austria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Arbeitszeitgesetz). Daily maximum is 8 hours (normal) or 10 hours (with overtime). Since 2018, daily working time can be extended to 12 hours and weekly to 60 hours in exceptional cases with compensatory rest. Overtime is compensated at 150% or with time off in lieu (1:1.5). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
See this comparison from Austria's perspective: Austria vs Greece
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Greece or Austria?
In Greece, the minimum wage is €5.31/hr ($6.04 USD). In Austria, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Greece compared to Austria?
The average gross salary in Greece is €1,400/mo ($1,593.63 USD), compared to €3,800/mo ($4,325.55 USD) in Austria. In USD terms, workers in Greece earn approximately 171% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Greece and Austria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Austria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Greece.
How do work hours compare between Greece and Austria?
Both Greece and Austria mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Greece and Austria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Austria has the higher GDP per capita at $73,911, which is 1.7x that of Greece at $44,327. From Greece's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.