Key Facts: Moldova vs Syria Wages
- Moldova Minimum Wage
- L32.54/hr ($1.90 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Moldova Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L15,500 /mo ($905.90 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of the Republic of Moldova / Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Moldova
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Moldova is roughly 9 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $906/mo in Moldova versus $120/mo in Syria, a 7.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Moldova is 3.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Moldova has higher GDP per capita ($18,615 vs $4,772). Moldova's unemployment rate is 1.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Moldova | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | L32.54 $1.90 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | L5,500 $321.45 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | L66,000 $3,857.39 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | L15,500 /mo $905.90 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | L12,400 /mo $724.72 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | L84,000 /yr $4,909.41 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Moldova is higher.
Work Week
- Moldova
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Reduced hours (35 hrs/week) for hazardous conditions. Overtime limited to 120 hours per year (240 with employee consent). Overtime premium at least 50% for first 2 hours and 100% thereafter. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 50%.
- 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 Moldova earns 766% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Moldova mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Moldova are $76 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Moldova
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Moldova or Syria?
In Moldova, the minimum wage is L32.54/hr ($1.90 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 766% 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 Moldova may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Moldova compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Moldova is L15,500/mo ($905.90 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Moldova earn approximately 654% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Moldova and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Moldova earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Moldova and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Moldova. Workers in Moldova work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Moldova 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 Moldova and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Moldova has the higher GDP per capita at $18,615, which is 3.9x that of Syria at $4,772. From Moldova'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.