Skip to main content

Key Facts: Kenya vs Syria Wages

Kenya Minimum Wage
KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 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 / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Kenya flag Kenya Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-05-27

Kenya flag Kenya

Minimum Wage

KSh93 /hr

$0.61 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

KSh50,000 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -96% Kenya vs Syria Avg. salary: +171% Kenya vs Syria

The minimum wage in Kenya is roughly 27 times lower than in Syria 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 $120/mo in Syria, a 2.7:1 ratio. Kenya has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.5% compared to 13.6%.

Kenya has higher GDP per capita ($6,644 vs $4,772). Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Kenya and Syria
Metric Kenya Syria
Minimum wage /hr KSh93 $0.61
Minimum wage /mo KSh16,113.75 $104.98 £S1,850 $16.46
Avg. gross salary /mo KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
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.

Syria

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Kenya earns 2617% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $790 in Syria.

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

Compare Kenya with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or Syria?

In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 2617% 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 more does the average worker earn in Kenya compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 171% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and Syria 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 Syria.

How do work hours compare between Kenya and Syria?

Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 48 hours in Syria. Workers in Kenya work 52 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Syria 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 Syria?

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 1.4x that of Syria at $4,772. 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.