Croatia sets the 2027 minimum wage: €1,130 gross. 5 things that change for you on 1 January
The government decided on Thursday 29 October: €80 more than today. What it means in your hand, why employers are getting a three-month refund, and what to check on your January payslip.
Published 2026-10-30 · Source checked 2026-10-29
It is decided. At its session on Thursday 29 October the Croatian government set the minimum wage for 2027 at €1,130 gross per month, from 1 January. That is €80 more than today's €1,050 and a rise of 7.6%. Prime Minister Plenković said about 50,000 workers, around 5% of the employed, are paid the minimum.[1][2][3]
1. Your pay in hand. Index.hr gives a rough calculation for a worker in Zagreb with no children and no extra tax allowances: about €844 net a month, against about €799 now. That is roughly €45 more in your pocket each month. Your own figure can differ with allowances, city tax and overtime.[1]
Work & SalaryTax refund in Croatia: do you get money back? What to do before the end of February2. Who gets it. The minimum is a floor for everyone working full time in Croatia, foreign workers included. Under Article 97 of the Aliens Act, a third-country worker's pay must not be lower than that of comparable local employees. If your payslip for January 2027 shows less than €1,130 gross for a full month, ask the employer in writing first.[4]
3. Why your employer may not be unhappy. The government will let employers who pay the minimum apply, through the Employment Service (HZZ), for a refund of the €80 difference for January, February and March 2027: up to €240 per worker. It is for the employer's cost, not an extra payment to you, and it only covers three months.[1][3]
4. Students. The minimum student-work rate rises to €7.06 per hour (from €6.56). Useful if you have a family member studying here.[1][5]
5. This is not the end of the story. Unions asked for €1,250 and employers for €1,086.75, and the government landed between them. Index reports that the labour minister has said the aim is €1,250 by 2028, which is a goal and not a decision.[1]
What to do: keep your December and January payslips and compare the gross line with €1,130. If you are paid per hour or have night and Sunday work, check that the extra pay is added on top (see our overtime, night and Sunday pay guide). For the background to the decision, read the October talks between unions and employers. Does your pay today sit above or below €1,130 gross? Tell us on our Facebook page.
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- Index.hr – Plenković objavio novu minimalnu plaću. Evo koliko je to neto (29 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
- HINA – Minimalna plaća za 2027. iznosit će 1.130 eura bruto (29 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
- Poslovni dnevnik – Od 1. siječnja raste minimalna plaća (29 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
- Zakon o strancima, članak 97. – zakon.hr · Official source
- Al Jazeera Balkans – Minimalna plaća u Hrvatskoj za 2027. iznosit će 1.130 eura bruto (29 Oct 2026) · Newspaper
This explanation is based on linked sources and does not claim independent on-the-ground reporting.
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