Cyprus introduced its first national minimum wage on 1 January 2024. Here is what you need to know: the current rate, who it covers, exemptions, and how it compares to the rest of the EU.
Calculate my net salary →| Period | Monthly gross | Hourly (40 h/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan – 30 Jun 2024 (first 6 months of employment) | €940 | €5.88 |
| After first 6 months / from 1 Jul 2024 onward | €1,000 | €6.25 |
When the minimum wage was introduced in January 2024, new employees received a slightly lower rate of €940/month during their first six months of employment. After those six months — or from 1 July 2024 for employees already in post — the rate rises to €1,000/month. This €1,000 rate continues to apply in 2025 and 2026 unless the government revises it.
The figure is the gross monthly salary. After Social Insurance (8.8%), GESY (2.65%) and income tax, the net take-home is lower. On a €1,000 gross with 12 salaries and no pension, the net is roughly €885/month — use the salary calculator for an exact breakdown.
The minimum wage applies to all employees in Cyprus — Cypriot citizens and foreign nationals alike, full-time and part-time (pro-rated for part-timers). It covers every sector of the economy with a few exceptions:
For part-time employees, the minimum is calculated proportionally. If the standard full-time week is 40 hours and you work 20 hours, your minimum monthly gross is €500.
Before 2024, Cyprus was one of the few EU member states with no national minimum wage. Instead, it had a system of sector-specific minimum wages (Minimum Guaranteed Wages) that applied only to nine named occupations — shop assistants, clerks, childcare workers, nursing assistants, school attendants, security guards, personal care workers, cleaners and caretakers. Their rate was €924/month after six months of service.
In November 2022, the EU adopted the Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages (2022/2041), which required member states to either have a statutory minimum wage or demonstrate that collective bargaining covers at least 80% of workers. Cyprus, with low collective bargaining coverage, chose to legislate. The Council of Ministers approved the new minimum wage decree in December 2023, effective 1 January 2024.
At €1,000/month gross, Cyprus sits in the middle of the EU range. Some approximate monthly gross minimum wages in the EU (as of early 2024):
| Country | Monthly minimum (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Luxembourg | €2,571 |
| Ireland | €2,146 |
| Germany | €2,054 |
| France | €1,767 |
| Spain | €1,134 |
| Cyprus | €1,000 |
| Greece | €910 |
| Portugal | €956 |
| Poland | €1,011 |
| Romania | €615 |
| Bulgaria | €477 |
Nominal figures do not tell the whole story — cost of living varies significantly across the EU. In purchasing-power-parity terms Cyprus fares somewhat better, though housing costs in Limassol and Nicosia have risen sharply in recent years.
On a gross of €1,000/month (€12,000/year) with 12 salaries:
For an exact figure including 13th salary or pension deductions, use the salary calculator.
The national minimum gross wage is €1,000 per month (€6.25/hour for a 40-hour week). This rate took effect on 1 January 2024 and remains in force for 2026.
It applies to all employees in Cyprus regardless of nationality or sector, with limited exemptions for domestic workers (who have a separate lower minimum), and for agricultural and maritime workers covered by specific collective agreements.
It is gross. After Social Insurance (8.8%), GESY (2.65%) and income tax, the net take-home is lower — roughly €885/month on €1,000 gross.
No. Paying below the minimum wage is a criminal offence under the decree. Employees can report violations to the Department of Labour Relations. The only exceptions are the specific categories listed above (domestic workers, recognised apprenticeships, certain agricultural/maritime collective agreements).
The government can revise the minimum wage by decree. The EU directive requires member states to review adequacy regularly. Any future increase will depend on economic conditions, inflation and political decisions — check the Ministry of Labour for the latest.