Key Facts: Egypt vs Djibouti Wages
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Djibouti Minimum Wage
- Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25)
Egypt
Djibouti
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Egypt is roughly 343 times lower than in Djibouti in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $135/mo in Egypt versus $675/mo in Djibouti, a 5.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Egypt is 2.4x that of Djibouti, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Egypt has higher GDP per capita ($19,094 vs $7,810). Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Djibouti's 26.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Egypt | Djibouti |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | E£29.17 $0.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | Fdj1,400 $7.88 |
| Minimum wage /mo | E£7,000 $137.80 | Fdj35,000 $196.94 |
| Minimum wage /yr | E£84,000 $1,653.54 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 | Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 | N/A/mo |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Egypt is higher.
Work Week
- Egypt
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week (excluding meal breaks). Overtime premium: 35% during the day, 70% at night. Maximum 2 overtime hours/day. Friday is the default weekly rest day. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced in practice.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Egypt earns 34197% less per hour in USD terms than one in Djibouti. Standard work weeks differ: Egypt mandates 48 hours while Djibouti mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Egypt are $28 vs $7,878 in Djibouti.
See this comparison from Djibouti's perspective: Djibouti vs Egypt
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or Djibouti?
In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In Djibouti, it is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). Djibouti has the higher rate by 34197% 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 Egypt may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Egypt compared to Djibouti?
The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD) in Djibouti. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 402% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt and Djibouti is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Djibouti earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Egypt.
How do work hours compare between Egypt and Djibouti?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Djibouti. Workers in Egypt work 48 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 Egypt and Djibouti?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Egypt has the higher GDP per capita at $19,094, which is 2.4x that of Djibouti at $7,810. From Egypt'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.