Key Facts: Guyana vs Qatar Wages
- Guyana Minimum Wage
- G$347/hr ($1.66 USD)
- Qatar Minimum Wage
- QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD)
- Guyana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- G$100,000 /mo ($477.90 USD)
- Qatar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- QAR11,724 /mo ($3,220.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour — Guyana (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour (MOL) — State of Qatar (2026-02-24)
Guyana
Qatar
Updated 2026-02-25
Guyana, a upper-middle-income economy, and Qatar, classified as high-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $478/mo in Guyana versus $3,221/mo in Qatar, a 6.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Qatar is 1.6x that of Guyana, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Guyana's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Guyana's minimum wage buys more than Qatar's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Guyana is $4 international dollars, compared to $2 in Qatar. Guyana has lower GDP per capita ($80,155 vs $126,046). Guyana's unemployment rate is 12.0% compared to Qatar's 0.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guyana | Qatar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | G$347 $1.66 | QAR5.21 $1.43 |
| Minimum wage /mo | G$60,147 $287.44 | QAR1,000 $274.73 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | QAR12,000 $3,296.70 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | G$100,000 /mo $477.90 | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | G$80,000 /mo $382.32 | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 |
| Median individual income /yr | G$600,000 /yr $2,867.38 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guyana is higher.
Work Week
- Guyana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate on weekdays and 2x on public holidays. Governed by the Labour Act. Some sectors (sugar, mining) may have different arrangements through collective agreements.
- Qatar
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Qatar to Guyana would see a 16% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guyana mandates 40 hours while Qatar mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guyana are $66 vs $69 in Qatar.
See this comparison from Qatar's perspective: Qatar vs Guyana
Compare Guyana with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guyana or Qatar?
In Guyana, the minimum wage is G$347/hr ($1.66 USD). In Qatar, it is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). Guyana has the higher rate by 16% 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 Qatar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Guyana compared to Qatar?
The average gross salary in Guyana is G$100,000/mo ($477.90 USD), compared to QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD) in Qatar. In USD terms, workers in Guyana earn approximately 574% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guyana and Qatar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guyana.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Guyana or Qatar?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Guyana can afford more than those in Qatar. The PPP-adjusted rate is $4 in Guyana and $2 in Qatar. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 91% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Qatar appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Guyana and Qatar?
Qatar has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guyana. Workers in Guyana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guyana 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 Guyana and Qatar?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Qatar has the higher GDP per capita at $126,046, which is 1.6x that of Guyana at $80,155. From Guyana'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.