Key Facts: Egypt vs Sudan Wages
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Sudan Minimum Wage
- ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ج.س.85,000 /mo ($140.50 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 / Sudan Labour Code (2026-02-25)
Egypt
Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Egypt is roughly 86 times lower than in Sudan 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 $140/mo in Sudan. GDP per capita (PPP) in Egypt is 9.0x that of Sudan, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Egypt has higher GDP per capita ($19,094 vs $2,116). Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Sudan's 7.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Egypt | Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | E£29.17 $0.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | E£7,000 $137.80 | ج.س.30,000 $49.59 |
| Minimum wage /yr | E£84,000 $1,653.54 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 | ج.س.85,000 /mo $140.50 |
| 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.
- Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act of 2017 sets standard hours at 8 per day / 40 per week. Maximum with overtime is 48 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (Islamic calendar). These provisions apply to formal employment only and enforcement has been severely disrupted by the 2023 conflict.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Egypt earns 8536% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Egypt mandates 48 hours while Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Egypt are $28 vs $1,983 in Sudan.
See this comparison from Sudan's perspective: Sudan vs Egypt
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or Sudan?
In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In Sudan, it is ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD). Sudan has the higher rate by 8536% 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 Sudan?
The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to ج.س.85,000/mo ($140.50 USD) in Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 4% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt and Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sudan 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 Sudan?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sudan. Workers in Egypt work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sudan 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 Sudan?
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 9.0x that of Sudan at $2,116. 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.