The minimum wage in Ukraine will rise to 8647 hryvnias: why this won't make Ukrainians richer.

According to inkorr.com: Starting from January 1, 2026, the minimum wage in Ukraine will increase by 9% and will amount to 8647 hryvnias. However, in dollar terms, Ukrainians will receive even less than in the current year, claims social policy expert Andriy Pavlovsky.

According to the expert's calculations, the minimum wage will be 'about 189 dollars', which, considering the devaluation of the hryvnia, means a 'decrease of 0.3%' compared to 2025.

The author of the article believes that the official increase in the minimum wage does not meet the real needs of Ukrainians. Pavlovsky emphasizes that the necessary amount to cover basic expenses significantly exceeds the planned increase.

Predictions and the Real Situation

Pavlovsky points to the discrepancy between official inflation forecasts and the actual situation in the country. According to him, real inflation may be significantly higher than the projected 10.4% and may range from 15-20%, which makes the increase in the minimum wage insufficient to maintain the purchasing power of Ukrainians.

Government data shows that the average salary of civil servants in August 2025 was 61.6 thousand hryvnias, which is three times higher than the average in Ukraine. Despite the increase in the minimum wage, the real income of Ukrainians still significantly lags behind the actual subsistence minimum.

Thus, the increase in the minimum wage in 2026 may prove inadequate to meet the social needs of the population. Inflation and the devaluation of the hryvnia continue to affect the real purchasing power of Ukrainians, making life increasingly difficult under current conditions.