Key Facts: Eritrea vs Moldova Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Moldova Minimum Wage
- L32.54/hr ($1.90 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Moldova Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L15,500 /mo ($905.90 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Government of the Republic of Moldova / Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Moldova
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 21 times higher than in Moldova in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $906/mo in Moldova, a 2.3:1 ratio. Moldova has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.5% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Moldova's 1.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Moldova |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | L32.54 $1.90 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | L5,500 $321.45 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | L66,000 $3,857.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | L15,500 /mo $905.90 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | L12,400 /mo $724.72 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | L84,000 /yr $4,909.41 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
- Moldova
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Reduced hours (35 hrs/week) for hazardous conditions. Overtime limited to 120 hours per year (240 with employee consent). Overtime premium at least 50% for first 2 hours and 100% thereafter. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 50%.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Moldova to Eritrea would see a 2003% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Moldova mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $76 in Moldova.
See this comparison from Moldova's perspective: Moldova vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Eritrea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eritrea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eritrea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
Eritrea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eritrea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eritrea vs Sweden 
Eritrea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Moldova?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Moldova, it is L32.54/hr ($1.90 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2003% 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 Moldova may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Moldova?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to L15,500/mo ($905.90 USD) in Moldova. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 126% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Moldova is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Moldova earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Moldova?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Moldova. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Moldova 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.