Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Romania Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Romania Minimum Wage
- lei24.36/hr ($5.40 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Romania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- lei7,200 /mo ($1,596.24 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), Government of Romania (2026-02-24)
Bangladesh
Romania
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Bangladesh is roughly 19 times higher than in Romania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $149/mo in Bangladesh versus $1,596/mo in Romania, a 10.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Romania is 5.1x that of Bangladesh, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bangladesh has lower GDP per capita ($9,647 vs $49,077). Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Romania's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Romania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | lei24.36 $5.40 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | lei4,050 $897.88 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | lei48,600 $10,774.62 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | lei7,200 /mo $1,596.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | lei4,500 /mo $997.65 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | lei40,000 /yr $8,868.00 |
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.
- Romania
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.75x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days, maximum 8 hours/day. Overtime premium is at least 75% of base salary. Maximum 48 hours/week including overtime, averaged over a 4-month reference period.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Romania to Bangladesh would see a 1821% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Bangladesh mandates 48 hours while Romania mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bangladesh are $4,979 vs $216 in Romania.
See this comparison from Romania's perspective: Romania vs Bangladesh
Compare Bangladesh with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Romania?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Romania, it is lei24.36/hr ($5.40 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 1821% 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 Romania 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 Romania?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to lei7,200/mo ($1,596.24 USD) in Romania. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 969% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Romania is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Romania 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 Romania?
Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Romania. Workers in Bangladesh work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Romania 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 Romania?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Romania has the higher GDP per capita at $49,077, which is 5.1x 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.