Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Malta Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Malta Minimum Wage
- €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 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), Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27)
Bangladesh
Malta
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Bangladesh is roughly 16 times higher than in Malta in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $149/mo in Bangladesh versus $2,446/mo in Malta, a 16.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Malta is 7.2x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bangladesh has lower GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $69,864). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Malta's 2.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Malta |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €5.74 $6.68 |
| Minimum wage /wk | — | €229.44 $267.19 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | €994.24 $1,157.84 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €11,930.88 $13,894.12 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 |
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.
- Malta
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over a 17-week reference period. Overtime premium is at least 50% for weekdays and 100% for Sundays and public holidays.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Malta to Bangladesh would see a 1452% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Bangladesh mandates 48 hours while Malta mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bangladesh are $4,979 vs $267 in Malta.
See this comparison from Malta's perspective: Malta vs Bangladesh
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Malta?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Malta, it is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 1452% 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 Malta may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Bangladesh compared to Malta?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD) in Malta. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 1537% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Malta is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malta 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 Malta?
Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Malta. Workers in Bangladesh work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malta 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 Malta?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Malta has the higher GDP per capita at $69,864, which is 7.2x 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.