Key Facts: Malta vs Palestine Wages
- Malta Minimum Wage
- €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 USD)
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27), Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25)
Malta
Palestine
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Malta is roughly 100 times lower than in Palestine in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,446/mo in Malta versus $1,137/mo in Palestine, a 2.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Malta is 16.0x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Malta has higher GDP per capita ($69,864 vs $4,371). Malta's unemployment rate is 2.9% compared to Palestine's 24.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malta | Palestine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.74 $6.68 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ₪86 $30.55 |
| Minimum wage /wk | €229.44 $267.19 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €994.24 $1,157.84 | ₪1,880 $667.73 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €11,930.88 $13,894.12 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 | ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malta is higher.
Work Week
- Malta
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over a 17-week reference period. Overtime premium is at least 50% for weekdays and 100% for Sundays and public holidays.
- Palestine
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Palestinian Labour Law sets 45 hours/week maximum ordinary time (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime payable at 1.25x. Friday is the weekly rest day. Workers employed in Israel work under Israeli labour law (which has different provisions). The conflict beginning October 2023 has fundamentally disrupted normal labour conditions across the territory.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Malta earns 9889% less per hour in USD terms than one in Palestine. Standard work weeks differ: Malta mandates 40 hours while Palestine mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malta are $267 vs $30,048 in Palestine.
See this comparison from Palestine's perspective: Palestine vs Malta
Compare Malta with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malta or Palestine?
In Malta, the minimum wage is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). In Palestine, it is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). Palestine has the higher rate by 9889% 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 Malta may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Malta compared to Palestine?
The average gross salary in Malta is €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD), compared to ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD) in Palestine. In USD terms, workers in Malta earn approximately 115% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malta and Palestine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malta earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Palestine.
How do work hours compare between Malta and Palestine?
Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Malta. Workers in Malta work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malta 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 Malta and Palestine?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Malta has the higher GDP per capita at $69,864, which is 16.0x that of Palestine at $4,371. From Malta'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.