Key Facts: Kosovo vs Mauritania Wages
- Kosovo Minimum Wage
- €1.57/hr ($1.83 USD)
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Kosovo Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €650 /mo ($756.96 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Data Sources
- Kosovo Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers / Kosovo Labour Law No. 03/L-212 (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25)
Kosovo
Mauritania
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Kosovo is roughly 410 times lower than in Mauritania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $757/mo in Kosovo versus $1,625/mo in Mauritania, a 2.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Kosovo is 2.4x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Kosovo has higher GDP per capita ($17,864 vs $7,369).
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kosovo | Mauritania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €1.57 $1.83 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | UM1,200 $30 |
| Minimum wage /mo | €264 $307.44 | UM30,000 $750 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €3,168 $3,689.30 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €650 /mo $756.96 | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €580 /mo $675.44 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | €3,600 /yr $4,192.38 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kosovo is higher.
Work Week
- Kosovo
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Law No. 03/L-212 sets the standard working week at 40 hours (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week (overtime limit: 8 hrs/week, 40 hrs/month, 240 hrs/year). Overtime is compensated at 130% of regular pay. Night work (22:00–06:00) carries a 26% premium. Weekend work is compensated at 150%. Workers are entitled to 18 days of paid annual leave (minimum); employees with disabilities and younger workers get more.
- Mauritania
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Kosovo earns 40921% less per hour in USD terms than one in Mauritania.
See this comparison from Mauritania's perspective: Mauritania vs Kosovo
Compare Kosovo with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kosovo or Mauritania?
In Kosovo, the minimum wage is €1.57/hr ($1.83 USD). In Mauritania, it is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 40921% 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 Kosovo may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Kosovo compared to Mauritania?
The average gross salary in Kosovo is €650/mo ($756.96 USD), compared to UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD) in Mauritania. In USD terms, workers in Kosovo earn approximately 115% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kosovo and Mauritania is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mauritania earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Kosovo.
How do work hours compare between Kosovo and Mauritania?
Both Kosovo and Mauritania mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Kosovo and Mauritania?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Kosovo has the higher GDP per capita at $17,864, which is 2.4x that of Mauritania at $7,369. From Kosovo'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.