A Madrid worker on the minimum wage, who rents a two-room apartment in the Spanish capital, will pay the entire gross salary he earns and another 300 euros, according to an analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). There are other European capitals where the price of rent far exceeds the income of employees.
23.6% of household expenses in the European Union go to housing and utilities (water, electricity, gas, etc.), according to Euronewswhich cites Eurostat data.
An analysis by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), which is based on data centralized by the European Union, shows that in 16 European capitals the average cost of renting a two-room apartment exceeds the gross minimum wage, even by hundreds of euros. Only in 5 capitals does the minimum income exceed the average rent.
The data presented in the analysis cited by Euronews is based on minimum gross incomes, so, the journalists note, the “burden” on employees is probably even higher if net wages are taken into account.
In Prague, the rent costs the salary and another 780 euros
The average rent for a two-room apartment in Prague is 1,710 euros, and the minimum gross salary is 924 euros. So, an employee will pay their full salary, plus 786 euros in rent – an amount equivalent to 185% of the minimum wage, notes Euronews.
In Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, the average rent is 1,710 euros, and the minimum wage is 1,073 euros. Almost 700 euros difference for the rent payment.
A wage earner paid the minimum in the economy would need an extra half salary to be able to pay his rent in Budapest (159%), Bratislava (158%), Sofia (154%), Athens (153%) and Riga (151%).
Even in Paris or Bucharest, your salary is not enough to pay your rent
And employees in Valletta, Paris, Tallinn or Madrid have to pay the minimum wage and a few hundred more euros to pay the rent for a two-room apartment. In Paris, the average rent reaches 2,523 euros, and an employee will have to pay another 700 euros, in addition to the full salary.
And in Bucharest, people have to pay more than the gross minimum wage. The capital of Romania ranks 12th in the analysis, with a weight of 122%: minimum gross salary is 4,050 lei.
The top is followed by Warsaw (117%), Dublin (113%), Ljubljana (105%) and Vilnius (105%).
EU capitals where you can pay your rent only from your salary
According to ETUC analysis, Brussels is the most accessible European capital for minimum wage workers in the economy. The average rent is 1,476 euros, while the minimum wage is 2,112 euros.
The second capital where housing costs fall within salary income is Berlin, with a share of 76%. Other options are Nicosia (85%), Luxembourg (87%) and The Hague (96%).
However, the European Trade Union Confederation notes a difference: in many European countries, the gross minimum wage is enough to pay your rent, if you don't live in the capital.
For example, in Poland, the minimum gross salary is 1,139 euros, while the average rent is 376 euros, nationally. And in Greece, if you choose not to live in Athens, you can pay your rent on an economy minimum wage.
At the national level, in Spain the minimum wage is 1,381 euros, while the average rent is 660 euros. The capital city where housing expenses fall within salary income is Berlin, with a weight of 76%. Other options are Nicosia (85%), Luxembourg (87%) and The Hague (96%).
However, the European Trade Union Confederation notes a difference: in many European countries, the gross minimum wage is enough to pay your rent, if you don't live in the capital.
For example, in Poland, the minimum gross salary is 1,139 euros, while the average rent is 376 euros, nationally. And in Greece, if you choose not to live in Athens, you can pay your rent on an economy minimum wage.
Nationally, in Spain the minimum wage is 1,381 euros, while the average rent is 660 euros.
