Key Facts: Egypt vs Guinea Wages
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25)
Egypt
Guinea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Egypt is roughly 89 times lower than in Guinea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Egypt at $135/mo compared to $174/mo in Guinea. GDP per capita (PPP) in Egypt is 4.2x that of Guinea, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Egypt has higher GDP per capita ($19,094 vs $4,565). Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Guinea's 5.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Egypt | Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | E£29.17 $0.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | E£7,000 $137.80 | FG440,000 $51.04 |
| Minimum wage /yr | E£84,000 $1,653.54 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 |
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.
- Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Egypt earns 8789% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea. Standard work weeks differ: Egypt mandates 48 hours while Guinea mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Egypt are $28 vs $2,042 in Guinea.
See this comparison from Guinea's perspective: Guinea vs Egypt
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or Guinea?
In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In Guinea, it is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 8789% 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 Guinea?
The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD) in Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 29% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt and Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guinea 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 Guinea?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea. Workers in Egypt work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea 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 Guinea?
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 4.2x that of Guinea at $4,565. 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.