Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Egypt Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27)
Guinea-Bissau
Egypt
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Guinea-Bissau is roughly 59 times higher than in Egypt in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Guinea-Bissau at $171/mo compared to $135/mo in Egypt. GDP per capita (PPP) in Egypt is 6.1x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $19,094). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Egypt's 6.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | E£29.17 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | E£7,000 $137.80 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | E£84,000 $1,653.54 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guinea-Bissau is higher.
Work Week
- Guinea-Bissau
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.
- 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
A minimum wage worker moving from Egypt to Guinea-Bissau would see a 5850% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Egypt mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea-Bissau are $1,367 vs $28 in Egypt.
See this comparison from Egypt's perspective: Egypt vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Egypt?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Egypt, it is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 5850% 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 more does the average worker earn in Guinea-Bissau compared to Egypt?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD) in Egypt. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 27% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Egypt is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guinea-Bissau earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Egypt.
How do work hours compare between Guinea-Bissau and Egypt?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. Workers in Guinea-Bissau work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau and Egypt?
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 6.1x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Guinea-Bissau'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.