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Key Facts: Luxembourg vs Iceland Wages

Luxembourg Minimum Wage
€15.63/hr ($18.20 USD)
Iceland Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Luxembourg Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€5,600 /mo ($6,521.49 USD)
Iceland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr800,000 /mo ($6,478.78 USD)
Data Sources
Inspection du Travail et des Mines (ITM); 2026 figures verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun) / Statistics Iceland (2026-02-24)

Luxembourg flag Luxembourg Iceland flag Iceland

Updated 2026-05-04

Luxembourg flag Luxembourg

Minimum Wage

€15.63 /hr

$18.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€5,600 /mo

Iceland flag Iceland

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr800,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +1% Luxembourg vs Iceland

Unlike Iceland, which has no statutory minimum wage, Luxembourg mandates a wage floor of $18/hr. Average salaries are higher in Luxembourg at $6,521/mo compared to $6,479/mo in Iceland. GDP per capita (PPP) in Luxembourg is 1.9x that of Iceland, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Luxembourg has higher GDP per capita ($155,941 vs $84,257). Luxembourg's unemployment rate is 6.3% compared to Iceland's 3.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Luxembourg and Iceland
Metric Luxembourg Iceland
Minimum wage /hr €15.63 $18.20 None
Minimum wage /mo €2,703.74 $3,148.64 None
Minimum wage /yr €32,444.88 $37,783.72 None
Avg. gross salary /mo €5,600 /mo $6,521.49 kr800,000 /mo $6,478.78
Avg. net salary /mo €4,000 /mo $4,658.20 kr560,000 /mo $4,535.15
Median individual income /yr €48,000 /yr $55,898.45 kr7,800,000 /yr $63,168.12

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Luxembourg is higher.

Work Week

Luxembourg

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). Daily maximum is 8 hours (extendable to 10 hours). Overtime is compensated at 140% of normal rate or with equivalent compensatory time off (1.5 hours for each overtime hour). Maximum 2 hours overtime per day. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.

Iceland

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.8x pay

Standard working week is 40 hours (set by collective agreements). The Act on Working Environment and Health sets maximum average of 48 hours/week per EU Working Time Directive. Overtime premiums are set by collective agreements, typically 80% premium (1.8x) for daytime overtime, higher for evenings/weekends. A landmark 2021 agreement reduced standard hours from 40 to 36 for many public sector workers, with the private sector gradually following.

See this comparison from Iceland's perspective: Iceland vs Luxembourg

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Luxembourg or Iceland?

In Luxembourg, the minimum wage is €15.63/hr ($18.20 USD). In Iceland, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Luxembourg compared to Iceland?

The average gross salary in Luxembourg is €5,600/mo ($6,521.49 USD), compared to kr800,000/mo ($6,478.78 USD) in Iceland. In USD terms, workers in Luxembourg earn approximately 1% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Luxembourg and Iceland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Luxembourg earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Iceland.

How do work hours compare between Luxembourg and Iceland?

Both Luxembourg and Iceland 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 Luxembourg and Iceland?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Luxembourg has the higher GDP per capita at $155,941, which is 1.9x that of Iceland at $84,257. From Luxembourg's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.