Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Finland Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 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 Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24)
Bangladesh
Finland
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Finland, which has no statutory minimum wage, Bangladesh mandates a wage floor of $104/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $149/mo in Bangladesh versus $4,542/mo in Finland, a 30.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 6.8x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bangladesh has lower GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $65,378). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Finland's 9.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 |
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.
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Bangladesh mandates 48 hours while Finland mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Finland's perspective: Finland vs Bangladesh
Compare Bangladesh with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Finland?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Finland, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Bangladesh compared to Finland?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in Finland. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 2940% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Finland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Bangladesh.
How do work hours compare between Bangladesh and Finland?
Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Bangladesh work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Bangladesh and Finland?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 6.8x 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.