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Key Facts: Nicaragua vs Guinea Wages

Nicaragua Minimum Wage
C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD)
Guinea Minimum Wage
FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
Nicaragua Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
C$15,000 /mo ($407.61 USD)
Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio del Trabajo (Ministry of Labour) / National Minimum Wage Commission — Nicaragua (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25)

Nicaragua flag Nicaragua Guinea flag Guinea

Updated 2026-02-25

Nicaragua flag Nicaragua

Minimum Wage

C$55.48 /hr

$1.51 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

C$15,000 /mo

Guinea flag Guinea

Minimum Wage

FG440,000 /mo

$51.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FG1,500,000 /mo

Min wage: -97% Nicaragua vs Guinea Avg. salary: +134% Nicaragua vs Guinea

The minimum wage in Nicaragua is roughly 34 times lower than in Guinea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $408/mo in Nicaragua versus $174/mo in Guinea, a 2.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Nicaragua is 1.9x that of Guinea, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Nicaragua has higher GDP per capita ($8,709 vs $4,565). Nicaragua's unemployment rate is 5.0% compared to Guinea's 5.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Nicaragua and Guinea
Metric Nicaragua Guinea
Minimum wage /hr C$55.48 $1.51
Minimum wage /mo C$13,315.61 $361.84 FG440,000 $51.04
Avg. gross salary /mo C$15,000 /mo $407.61 FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01
Avg. net salary /mo C$12,000 /mo $326.09 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr C$72,000 /yr $1,956.52 FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nicaragua is higher.

Work Week

Nicaragua

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Night work is limited to 45 hours/week (7.5 hours/day). Mixed shifts limited to 7 hours/day. Overtime is paid at 2x the regular rate. Workers are entitled to one mandatory rest day per week. Governed by the Código del Trabajo (Labour Code).

Guinea

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Nicaragua earns 3286% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea. Standard work weeks differ: Nicaragua mandates 48 hours while Guinea mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nicaragua are $72 vs $2,042 in Guinea.

See this comparison from Guinea's perspective: Guinea vs Nicaragua

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Nicaragua or Guinea?

In Nicaragua, the minimum wage is C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD). In Guinea, it is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 3286% 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 Nicaragua may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Nicaragua compared to Guinea?

The average gross salary in Nicaragua is C$15,000/mo ($407.61 USD), compared to FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD) in Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Nicaragua earn approximately 134% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nicaragua and Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nicaragua earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.

How do work hours compare between Nicaragua and Guinea?

Nicaragua has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea. Workers in Nicaragua work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea 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 Nicaragua and Guinea?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Nicaragua has the higher GDP per capita at $8,709, which is 1.9x that of Guinea at $4,565. From Nicaragua'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.