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Key Facts: Iceland vs Tunisia Wages

Iceland Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Tunisia Minimum Wage
TND2.31/hr ($0.74 USD)
Iceland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr800,000 /mo ($6,478.78 USD)
Tunisia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
TND1,200 /mo ($383.39 USD)
Data Sources
Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun) / Statistics Iceland (2026-02-24), Ministère des Affaires Sociales / SMIG/SMAG decrees (2026-02-24)

Iceland flag Iceland Tunisia flag Tunisia

Updated 2026-02-24

Iceland flag Iceland

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr800,000 /mo

Tunisia flag Tunisia

Minimum Wage

TND2.31 /hr

$0.74 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

TND1,200 /mo

Avg. salary: +1590% Iceland vs Tunisia

Iceland has no statutory minimum wage, while Tunisia sets a floor of $1/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $6,479/mo in Iceland versus $383/mo in Tunisia, a 16.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iceland is 5.8x that of Tunisia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Iceland has higher GDP per capita ($84,257 vs $14,521). Iceland's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Tunisia's 15.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iceland and Tunisia
Metric Iceland Tunisia
Minimum wage /hr None TND2.31 $0.74
Minimum wage /day None TND16 $5.11
Minimum wage /mo None TND480 $153.35
Minimum wage /yr None TND5,760 $1,840.26
Avg. gross salary /mo kr800,000 /mo $6,478.78 TND1,200 /mo $383.39
Avg. net salary /mo kr560,000 /mo $4,535.15 TND1,020 /mo $325.88
Median individual income /yr kr7,800,000 /yr $63,168.12 TND7,200 /yr $2,300.32

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.

Tunisia

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.75x pay

Labour Code allows both 48-hour and 40-hour regimes depending on sector and collective agreements. Most industrial/services workers are on 48 hours. Overtime surcharge: 75% for daytime hours beyond standard. Night and holiday overtime receive higher premiums. The 40-hour regime is increasingly common in services and offices.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Iceland mandates 40 hours while Tunisia mandates 48 hours.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iceland or Tunisia?

In Iceland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Tunisia, it is TND2.31/hr ($0.74 USD).

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

The average gross salary in Iceland is kr800,000/mo ($6,478.78 USD), compared to TND1,200/mo ($383.39 USD) in Tunisia. In USD terms, workers in Iceland earn approximately 1590% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iceland and Tunisia 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 Tunisia.

How do work hours compare between Iceland and Tunisia?

Tunisia has a longer standard work week at 48 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 Tunisia?

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 5.8x that of Tunisia at $14,521. 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.