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Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Myanmar Wages

Bangladesh Minimum Wage
৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
Myanmar Minimum Wage
K975/hr ($0.46 USD)
Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
Myanmar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
K450,000 /mo ($214.29 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), National Committee for Setting up the Minimum Wage — Myanmar (2026-02-25)

Bangladesh flag Bangladesh Myanmar flag Myanmar

Updated 2026-05-04

Bangladesh flag Bangladesh

Minimum Wage

৳12,500 /mo

$103.73 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

৳18,000 /mo

Myanmar flag Myanmar

Minimum Wage

K975 /hr

$0.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

K450,000 /mo

Min wage: +22243% Bangladesh vs Myanmar Avg. salary: -30% Bangladesh vs Myanmar

The minimum wage in Bangladesh is roughly 223 times higher than in Myanmar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Bangladesh at $149/mo compared to $214/mo in Myanmar. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bangladesh is 1.6x that of Myanmar, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Bangladesh has higher GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $5,997). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Myanmar's 3.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Bangladesh and Myanmar
Metric Bangladesh Myanmar
Minimum wage /hr K975 $0.46
Minimum wage /day K7,800 $3.71
Minimum wage /mo ৳12,500 $103.73 K202,800 $96.57
Minimum wage /yr K2,433,600 $1,158.86
Avg. gross salary /mo ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 K450,000 /mo $214.29
Avg. net salary /mo ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 K400,000 /mo $190.48
Median individual income /yr ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 K1,800,000 /yr $857.14

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.

Myanmar

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Factories Act sets normal working hours at 44 hours per week for factories. Shops and Establishments Law allows up to 48 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Myanmar to Bangladesh would see a 22243% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Bangladesh mandates 48 hours while Myanmar mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bangladesh are $4,979 vs $20 in Myanmar.

See this comparison from Myanmar's perspective: Myanmar vs Bangladesh

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Myanmar?

In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Myanmar, it is K975/hr ($0.46 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 22243% 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 Myanmar 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 Myanmar?

The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to K450,000/mo ($214.29 USD) in Myanmar. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 43% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Myanmar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Myanmar 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 Myanmar?

Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Myanmar. Workers in Bangladesh work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Myanmar 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 Myanmar?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bangladesh has the higher GDP per capita at $9,647, which is 1.6x that of Myanmar at $5,997. From Bangladesh's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.