Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Egypt Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04), Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27)
Bangladesh
Egypt
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Bangladesh is roughly 181 times higher than in Egypt in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Bangladesh at $149/mo compared to $135/mo in Egypt. GDP per capita (PPP) in Egypt is 2.0x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bangladesh has lower GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $19,094). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Egypt's 6.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | E£29.17 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | E£7,000 $137.80 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | E£84,000 $1,653.54 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Bangladesh is higher.
Work Week
- Bangladesh
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Bangladesh Labour Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 60 hours/week. Overtime paid at double the basic wage. Factories must provide one day off per week.
- Egypt
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week (excluding meal breaks). Overtime premium: 35% during the day, 70% at night. Maximum 2 overtime hours/day. Friday is the default weekly rest day. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced in practice.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Egypt to Bangladesh would see a 17966% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Egypt's perspective: Egypt vs Bangladesh
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Egypt?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Egypt, it is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 17966% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Egypt may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Bangladesh compared to Egypt?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD) in Egypt. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 11% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Egypt is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bangladesh earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Egypt.
How do work hours compare between Bangladesh and Egypt?
Both Bangladesh and Egypt mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Bangladesh and Egypt?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Egypt has the higher GDP per capita at $19,094, which is 2.0x that of Bangladesh at $9,647. From Bangladesh's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.