Key Facts: Finland vs Egypt Wages
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24), Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27)
Finland
Egypt
Updated 2026-05-27
Finland has no statutory minimum wage, while Egypt sets a floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,542/mo in Finland versus $135/mo in Egypt, a 33.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 3.4x that of Egypt, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Finland has higher GDP per capita ($65,378 vs $19,094). Finland's unemployment rate is 9.5% compared to Egypt's 6.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Finland | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | E£29.17 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | E£7,000 $137.80 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | E£84,000 $1,653.54 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 |
| Median individual income /yr | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Finland is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Finland mandates 40 hours while Egypt mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Egypt's perspective: Egypt vs Finland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Finland or Egypt?
In Finland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Egypt, it is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Finland compared to Egypt?
The average gross salary in Finland is €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD), compared to E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD) in Egypt. In USD terms, workers in Finland earn approximately 3277% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Finland and Egypt 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 Finland and Egypt?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Finland work 40 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 Finland and Egypt?
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 Finland'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.