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Key Facts: Iceland vs Palestine Wages

Iceland Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Palestine Minimum Wage
₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
Iceland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr800,000 /mo ($6,478.78 USD)
Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
Data Sources
Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun) / Statistics Iceland (2026-02-24), Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25)

Iceland flag Iceland Palestine flag Palestine

Updated 2026-02-25

Iceland flag Iceland

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr800,000 /mo

Palestine flag Palestine

Minimum Wage

₪1,880 /mo

$667.73 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₪3,200 /mo

Avg. salary: +470% Iceland vs Palestine

Iceland has no statutory minimum wage, while Palestine sets a floor of $668/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $6,479/mo in Iceland versus $1,137/mo in Palestine, a 5.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iceland is 19.3x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Iceland has higher GDP per capita ($84,257 vs $4,371). Iceland's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Palestine's 24.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iceland and Palestine
Metric Iceland Palestine
Minimum wage /day None ₪86 $30.55
Minimum wage /mo None ₪1,880 $667.73
Avg. gross salary /mo kr800,000 /mo $6,478.78 ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57
Avg. net salary /mo kr560,000 /mo $4,535.15 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr kr7,800,000 /yr $63,168.12 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iceland is higher.

Work Week

Iceland

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.8x pay

Standard working week is 40 hours (set by collective agreements). The Act on Working Environment and Health sets maximum average of 48 hours/week per EU Working Time Directive. Overtime premiums are set by collective agreements, typically 80% premium (1.8x) for daytime overtime, higher for evenings/weekends. A landmark 2021 agreement reduced standard hours from 40 to 36 for many public sector workers, with the private sector gradually following.

Palestine

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 54 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Palestinian Labour Law sets 45 hours/week maximum ordinary time (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime payable at 1.25x. Friday is the weekly rest day. Workers employed in Israel work under Israeli labour law (which has different provisions). The conflict beginning October 2023 has fundamentally disrupted normal labour conditions across the territory.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Iceland mandates 40 hours while Palestine mandates 45 hours.

See this comparison from Palestine's perspective: Palestine vs Iceland

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iceland or Palestine?

In Iceland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Palestine, it is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in Iceland compared to Palestine?

The average gross salary in Iceland is kr800,000/mo ($6,478.78 USD), compared to ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD) in Palestine. In USD terms, workers in Iceland earn approximately 470% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iceland and Palestine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iceland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Palestine.

How do work hours compare between Iceland and Palestine?

Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Iceland. Workers in Iceland work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iceland 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 Iceland and Palestine?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iceland has the higher GDP per capita at $84,257, which is 19.3x that of Palestine at $4,371. From Iceland'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.