Key Facts: Montenegro vs Somalia Wages
- Montenegro Minimum Wage
- €3.87/hr ($4.51 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Montenegro Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,200 /mo ($1,397.46 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Montenegro (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Montenegro
Somalia
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Montenegro mandates a wage floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,397/mo in Montenegro versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 5.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Montenegro is 21.3x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Montenegro has higher GDP per capita ($34,063 vs $1,602). Montenegro's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Montenegro | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €3.87 $4.51 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €670 $780.25 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €8,040 $9,362.99 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,200 /mo $1,397.46 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,012 /mo $1,178.53 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
| Median individual income /yr | €8,400 /yr $9,782.23 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Montenegro is higher.
Work Week
- Montenegro
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
Labour Law sets standard workweek at 40 hours. Overtime limited to 10 hours per week. Overtime premium at least 40%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 40%. Work on rest days premium at least 150%. Holiday work premium at least 150%. EU Working Time Directive limits apply as Montenegro aligns with EU acquis.
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Montenegro mandates 40 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Montenegro
Compare Montenegro with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Montenegro or Somalia?
In Montenegro, the minimum wage is €3.87/hr ($4.51 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Montenegro compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Montenegro is €1,200/mo ($1,397.46 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Montenegro earn approximately 432% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Montenegro and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Montenegro earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Montenegro and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Montenegro. Workers in Montenegro work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Montenegro 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 Montenegro and Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Montenegro has the higher GDP per capita at $34,063, which is 21.3x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Montenegro'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.