Iran Sri Lanka

Updated 2026-05-04

Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Sri Lanka

Minimum Wage

Rs135 /hr

$0.45 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Rs55,000 /mo

Min wage: +126% Iran vs Sri Lanka Avg. salary: +220% Iran vs Sri Lanka

The minimum wage in Iran is 126% higher than in Sri Lanka when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $588/mo in Iran versus $184/mo in Sri Lanka, a 3.2:1 ratio. Sri Lanka has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.0% compared to 8.3%.

From Iran's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Iran's minimum wage buys more than Sri Lanka's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Iran is $6 international dollars, compared to $2 in Sri Lanka. Iran has higher GDP per capita ($19,874 vs $15,633). Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iran and Sri Lanka
Metric	Iran	Sri Lanka	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	﷼692,731 $1.02	Rs135 $0.45	+125.6%
Minimum wage /day	﷼5,541,850 $8.15	Rs1,080 $3.61	+125.6%
Minimum wage /mo	﷼166,255,500 $244.49	Rs27,000 $90.30	+170.8%
Minimum wage /yr	﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92	Rs324,000 $1,083.61	+170.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24	Rs55,000 /mo $183.95	+219.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	Rs49,500 /mo $165.55	—
Median individual income /yr	﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65	Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68	+50.8%

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

Work Week

Iran: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
Sri Lanka: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Iran Sri Lanka Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Iran (USD)	Sri Lanka (USD)
2016	—	$33/hr
2019	—	$33/hr
2020	$25/hr	$33/hr
2021	$40/hr	$33/hr
2022	$84/hr	$42/hr
2023	$196/hr	$54/hr
2024	$265/hr	$54/hr
2025	$153/hr	$90/hr
2026	$244/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Sri Lanka to Iran would see a 126% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Iran mandates 44 hours while Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iran are $45 vs $20 in Sri Lanka.

See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka vs Iran

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or Sri Lanka?

In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). Iran has the higher rate by 126% 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 Sri Lanka may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Iran compared to Sri Lanka?

The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 220% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and Sri Lanka is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Sri Lanka.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Iran or Sri Lanka?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Iran can afford more than those in Sri Lanka. The PPP-adjusted rate is $6 in Iran and $2 in Sri Lanka. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 279% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Sri Lanka appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Iran and Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Iran work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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 Iran and Sri Lanka?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iran has the higher GDP per capita at $19,874, which is 1.3x that of Sri Lanka at $15,633. From Iran'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.