Key Facts: Kenya vs Eritrea Wages
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Kenya 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Kenya is roughly 66 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Kenya at $326/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea.
Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kenya | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | KSh93 $0.61 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kenya is higher.
Work Week
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Kenya earns 6502% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Kenya
Compare Kenya with...
Kenya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Kenya vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Kenya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Kenya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Kenya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Kenya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Kenya vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Kenya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Kenya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Kenya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Kenya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Kenya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Kenya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Kenya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Kenya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Kenya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Kenya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Kenya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Kenya vs Switzerland 
Kenya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Kenya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Kenya vs Sweden 
Kenya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Kenya vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or Eritrea?
In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 6502% 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 Kenya may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Kenya compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 23% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Kenya.
How do work hours compare between Kenya and Eritrea?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Kenya work 52 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.