Key Facts: Cyprus vs Somalia Wages
- Cyprus Minimum Wage
- €6.28/hr ($7.31 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cyprus Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,200 /mo ($2,562.01 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Cyprus
Somalia
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cyprus mandates a wage floor of $7/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,562/mo in Cyprus versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 9.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Cyprus is 39.3x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Cyprus has higher GDP per capita ($63,007 vs $1,602). Cyprus' unemployment rate is 4.9% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cyprus | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €6.28 $7.31 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €1,088 $1,267.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €13,056 $15,204.38 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,200 /mo $2,562.01 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,850 /mo $2,154.42 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
| Median individual income /yr | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cyprus is higher.
Work Week
- Cyprus
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is typically 38-40 hours depending on sector (most common is 40 hours in 5 days). Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over 4 months. Overtime premium depends on collective agreements, typically 50%.
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Cyprus mandates 40 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Cyprus
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cyprus or Somalia?
In Cyprus, the minimum wage is €6.28/hr ($7.31 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Cyprus compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Cyprus is €2,200/mo ($2,562.01 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Cyprus earn approximately 875% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cyprus and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cyprus earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Cyprus and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cyprus. Workers in Cyprus work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cyprus 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 Cyprus and Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Cyprus has the higher GDP per capita at $63,007, which is 39.3x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Cyprus' 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.