Kenya Rwanda

Updated 2026-05-27

Kenya

Minimum Wage

KSh93 /hr

$0.61 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

KSh50,000 /mo

Rwanda

Minimum Wage

FRw14.08 /hr

$0.01 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FRw73,948 /mo

Min wage: +6187% Kenya vs Rwanda Avg. salary: +544% Kenya vs Rwanda

The minimum wage in Kenya is roughly 63 times higher than in Rwanda in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $326/mo in Kenya versus $51/mo in Rwanda, a 6.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Kenya is 1.8x that of Rwanda, underscoring the structural economic divide.

From Kenya's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Kenya's minimum wage buys more than Rwanda's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Kenya is $2 international dollars, compared to $0 in Rwanda. Kenya has higher GDP per capita ($6,644 vs $3,711). Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to Rwanda's 11.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kenya and Rwanda
Metric	Kenya	Rwanda	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	KSh93 $0.61	FRw14.08 $0.01	+6186.7%
Minimum wage /mo	KSh16,113.75 $104.98	FRw2,440 $1.67	+6185.6%
Avg. gross salary /mo	KSh50,000 /mo $325.73	FRw73,948 /mo $50.61	+543.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	KSh38,500 /mo $250.81	FRw62,000 /mo $42.44	+491.0%
Median individual income /yr	KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64	FRw240,000 /yr $164.27	+613.8%

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.
Rwanda: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 55 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Rwanda to Kenya would see a 6187% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while Rwanda mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $0 in Rwanda.

See this comparison from Rwanda's perspective: Rwanda vs Kenya

Compare Kenya with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or Rwanda?

In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In Rwanda, it is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). Kenya has the higher rate by 6187% 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 Rwanda may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Kenya compared to Rwanda?

The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD) in Rwanda. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 544% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and Rwanda is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kenya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Rwanda.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Kenya or Rwanda?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Kenya can afford more than those in Rwanda. The PPP-adjusted rate is $2 in Kenya and $0 in Rwanda. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 5320% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Rwanda appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Kenya and Rwanda?

Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 45 hours in Rwanda. Workers in Kenya work 52 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Rwanda 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 Kenya and Rwanda?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Kenya has the higher GDP per capita at $6,644, which is 1.8x that of Rwanda at $3,711. From Kenya'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.