A family of two working adults and two children would need nearly 68,000 lei per month to cover the expenses required for a decent standard of living in the Republic of Moldova. The calculation is included in a new study presented on Wednesday, October 7, by the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova (CNSM).
According to the study, the reference family would need exactly 67,899.8 lei per month, or 33,949.9 lei for each of the two working adults.
The amount includes expenses for food, housing, healthcare, education, transport, communications and recreation, as well as a reserve for unforeseen circumstances.
The study also proposes a new value for the subsistence minimum. For one person, it would amount to 4,907.6 lei per month, 60.7% higher than the amount calculated under the methodology currently in use.
The authors of the study say the current methodology no longer sufficiently reflects the structure of consumption and the actual costs of goods and services, as it has not undergone substantial revision since 2013.
The new calculation also includes expenses related to social participation, in addition to those required to cover basic needs.
The authors stress that the nearly 68,000 lei figure is not a proposal for a minimum wage, but an estimate of the monthly amount needed by the reference family based on the expenses included in the study.
On the same day, the CNSM and the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova also agreed on a new minimum wage for employees in the real sector of the economy.
Starting January 1, 2027, the minimum wage will be 7,600 lei per month, up from the current 6,300 lei. This represents an increase of 20.6%.
The minimum wage will amount to 44.97 lei per hour, based on a full-time work schedule averaging 169 hours per month.
According to the two organizations, the new minimum wage will represent 43.7% of the average monthly wage projected for 2026 and will approach the reference value of 50% set out in the European Directive on adequate minimum wages.