Key Facts: Egypt vs Finland Wages
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24)
Egypt
Finland
Updated 2026-05-27
Unlike Finland, which has no statutory minimum wage, Egypt mandates a wage floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $135/mo in Egypt versus $4,542/mo in Finland, a 33.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 3.4x that of Egypt, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Egypt has lower GDP per capita ($19,094 vs $65,378). Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Finland's 9.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Egypt | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | E£29.17 $0.57 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | E£7,000 $137.80 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | E£84,000 $1,653.54 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 |
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.
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Egypt mandates 48 hours while Finland mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Finland's perspective: Finland vs Egypt
Compare Egypt with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or Finland?
In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In Finland, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Egypt compared to Finland?
The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in Finland. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 3277% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt and Finland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland 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 Finland?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Egypt work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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 Finland?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 3.4x that of Egypt at $19,094. From Egypt'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.