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Key Facts: Greece vs Norway Wages

Greece Minimum Wage
€5.31/hr ($6.04 USD)
Norway Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Greece Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€1,400 /mo ($1,593.63 USD)
Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr55,150 /mo ($5,549.35 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), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)

Greece flag Greece Norway flag Norway

Updated 2026-05-28

Greece flag Greece

Minimum Wage

€5.31 /hr

$6.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€1,400 /mo

Norway flag Norway

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr55,150 /mo

Avg. salary: -71% Greece vs Norway

Unlike Norway, 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 $5,549/mo in Norway, a 3.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Norway is 2.3x that of Greece, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Greece has lower GDP per capita ($44,327 vs $102,038). Greece's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Norway's 4.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Greece and Norway
Metric Greece Norway
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 kr55,150 /mo $5,549.35
Avg. net salary /mo €1,100 /mo $1,252.13 kr38,600 /mo $3,884.04
Median individual income /yr €12,800 /yr $14,570.29 kr570,000 /yr $57,355.03

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.

Norway

37.5 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Greece mandates 40 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.

See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway vs Greece

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Greece or Norway?

In Greece, the minimum wage is €5.31/hr ($6.04 USD). In Norway, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Greece compared to Norway?

The average gross salary in Greece is €1,400/mo ($1,593.63 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,549.35 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Greece earn approximately 248% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Greece and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway 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 Norway?

Greece has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Greece work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.

What is the cost of living difference between Greece and Norway?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 2.3x 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.