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Key Facts: Colombia vs Syria Wages

Colombia Minimum Wage
COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Colombia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
COP2,200,000 /mo ($532.69 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 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 / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Colombia flag Colombia Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-05-27

Colombia flag Colombia

Minimum Wage

COP7,295.44 /hr

$1.77 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

COP2,200,000 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -89% Colombia vs Syria Avg. salary: +343% Colombia vs Syria

The minimum wage in Colombia is roughly 9 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $533/mo in Colombia versus $120/mo in Syria, a 4.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Colombia is 4.7x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Colombia has higher GDP per capita ($22,349 vs $4,772). Colombia's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Colombia and Syria
Metric Colombia Syria
Minimum wage /hr COP7,295.44 $1.77
Minimum wage /mo COP1,750,905 $423.95 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr COP22,761,765 $5,511.32
Avg. gross salary /mo COP2,200,000 /mo $532.69 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo COP1,936,000 /mo $468.77 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
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).

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 Colombia earns 832% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Colombia mandates 44 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Colombia are $78 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Colombia

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Colombia or Syria?

In Colombia, the minimum wage is COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 832% 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 Colombia 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 Syria?

The average gross salary in Colombia is COP2,200,000/mo ($532.69 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Colombia earn approximately 343% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Colombia and Syria 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 Syria.

How do work hours compare between Colombia and Syria?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Colombia has the higher GDP per capita at $22,349, which is 4.7x that of Syria at $4,772. From Colombia'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.