Key Facts: Bulgaria vs Syria Wages
- Bulgaria Minimum Wage
- лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Bulgaria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- лв2,200 /mo ($1,325.30 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Bulgaria
Syria
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Bulgaria is 73% lower than in Syria in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,325/mo in Bulgaria versus $120/mo in Syria, a 11.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bulgaria is 8.8x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Bulgaria has higher GDP per capita ($41,969 vs $4,772). Bulgaria's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bulgaria | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | лв7.30 $4.40 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | лв1,213 $730.72 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | лв14,556 $8,768.67 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | лв2,200 /mo $1,325.30 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | лв1,720 /mo $1,036.14 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | лв14,400 /yr $8,674.70 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Bulgaria is higher.
Work Week
- Bulgaria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 75% for weekends, 100% for public holidays. Annual overtime limit of 150 hours.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Bulgaria earns 274% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Bulgaria mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bulgaria are $176 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Bulgaria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bulgaria or Syria?
In Bulgaria, the minimum wage is лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 274% 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 Bulgaria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Bulgaria compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Bulgaria is лв2,200/mo ($1,325.30 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Bulgaria earn approximately 1003% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bulgaria and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bulgaria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Bulgaria and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Bulgaria. Workers in Bulgaria work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bulgaria has the higher GDP per capita at $41,969, which is 8.8x that of Syria at $4,772. From Bulgaria'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.