Key Facts: Malta vs Syria Wages
- Malta Minimum Wage
- €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Malta
Syria
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Malta is 59% lower than in Syria in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,446/mo in Malta versus $120/mo in Syria, a 20.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Malta is 14.6x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Malta has higher GDP per capita ($69,864 vs $4,772). Malta's unemployment rate is 2.9% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malta | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.74 $6.68 | — |
| Minimum wage /wk | €229.44 $267.19 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €994.24 $1,157.84 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €11,930.88 $13,894.12 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| 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.
- 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 Malta earns 146% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Malta mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malta are $267 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Malta
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malta or Syria?
In Malta, the minimum wage is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 146% 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 Syria?
The average gross salary in Malta is €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Malta earn approximately 1936% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malta and Syria 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 Syria.
How do work hours compare between Malta and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 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 Syria?
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 14.6x that of Syria at $4,772. 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.