Key Facts: Colombia vs South Sudan Wages
- Colombia Minimum Wage
- COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Colombia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- COP2,200,000 /mo ($532.69 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo y Seguridad Social; 2026 SMLMV per Decretos 1469 y 1470 de 2025 + Decreto 0159 de 2026 (auxilio de transporte) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Colombia
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
Colombia, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $533/mo in Colombia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 19.6:1 ratio. Colombia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.3% compared to 12.4%.
Colombia's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Colombia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | COP7,295.44 $1.77 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | COP1,750,905 $423.95 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | COP22,761,765 $5,511.32 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | COP2,200,000 /mo $532.69 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | COP1,936,000 /mo $468.77 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | COP16,800,000 /yr $4,067.80 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Colombia is higher.
Work Week
- Colombia
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Colombia is reducing the workweek from 48 to 42 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021 in annual steps. As of 2026-01-01, the maximum is 44 hours/week. The final step (44h → 42h) takes effect July 2026. Daytime overtime: 25% premium. Night overtime: 75% premium. Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium (175% if also overtime).
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Colombia would see a 16% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Colombia mandates 44 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Colombia are $78 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Colombia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Colombia or South Sudan?
In Colombia, the minimum wage is COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Colombia has the higher rate by 16% 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 South Sudan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Colombia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Colombia is COP2,200,000/mo ($532.69 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Colombia earn approximately 1856% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Colombia and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Colombia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Colombia and South Sudan?
Colombia has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Colombia work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Sudan 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.