Key Facts: Djibouti vs Brunei Wages
- Djibouti Minimum Wage
- Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
Djibouti
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Djibouti is roughly 95 times higher than in Brunei in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $675/mo in Djibouti versus $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 2.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Brunei is 11.5x that of Djibouti, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Djibouti has lower GDP per capita ($7,810 vs $89,879). Djibouti's unemployment rate is 26.0% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Djibouti | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /day | Fdj1,400 $7.88 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Fdj35,000 $196.94 | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Djibouti is higher.
Work Week
- Djibouti
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Arabic and French are official languages. The labour force is supplemented by a large number of migrant workers from Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Brunei to Djibouti would see a 9446% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Djibouti mandates 40 hours while Brunei mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Djibouti are $7,878 vs $91 in Brunei.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs Djibouti
Compare Djibouti with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Djibouti or Brunei?
In Djibouti, the minimum wage is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Djibouti has the higher rate by 9446% 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 Brunei may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Djibouti compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in Djibouti is Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Djibouti earn approximately 192% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Djibouti and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Djibouti.
How do work hours compare between Djibouti and Brunei?
Brunei has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Djibouti. Workers in Djibouti work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Djibouti 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 Djibouti and Brunei?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brunei has the higher GDP per capita at $89,879, which is 11.5x that of Djibouti at $7,810. From Djibouti'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.