The trade union minimum wage in July amounted to 68,498 denars and was reduced by 156 denars compared to the same month last year, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia announced today.
A decrease of 156 denars can hardly be felt in the family budget, especially when almost 70 thousand denars are needed to cover basic monthly needs. This is how much, according to the new calculation of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, the union's minimum basket for July 2026 is.
A family of four without a car needs 68.498 denars in July , which is 156 denars less than in June. The monthly decrease is minimal, and the costs still remain high for households that need to provide food, clothing, housing, transportation, education and other basic needs.
The bill becomes even higher for families who do not have their own home. If the calculation includes renting a 60 square meter apartment, the required monthly amount increases to 83.873 denars.
The majority of the money still ends up in the supermarkets. A family of four needs 25.012 denars for food and drinks , which is 36,5 percent of the total value of the basket. In practice, more than a third of the entire family budget is spent on food products alone.
The second largest item is education, for which 7.192 denars are planned , or 10,5 percent of the basket. Clothing and footwear require 6.511 denars , and the costs of rent, water, electricity and heating, without the additional calculation for a rented apartment, amount to 6.379 denars.
A family should allocate 5.592 denars per month for recreation and culture , while 5.041 denars are calculated for transportation . Communications costs amount to 3.677 denars , and 4.131 denars are planned for restaurants and hotels.
For personal hygiene and home maintenance, 2.667 denars are needed , for health needs 1.196 denars , and for other goods and services another 1.100 denars.
The SSM calculation refers to a four-member family that does not have a car and includes the costs that the Union considers necessary for normal functioning during one month.
Although statistically the basket is somewhat cheaper in July, the difference of 156 denars does not change the essential picture. For families without rent expenses, 68.498 denars are needed, and for those who rent an apartment, the monthly limit approaches 84 thousand denars.
Precisely because of the growing gap between wages and real living costs, SCM has been demanding for a long time that the minimum wage be increased to 600 euros, and that all other wages be increased by 100 euros.
The new calculation shows that even a small reduction in the basket does not automatically mean relief for households. The key question remains how many families have enough income to cover the amount that, according to the Union, is needed just for basic living.
