Key Facts: Palestine vs Finland Wages
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24)
Palestine
Finland
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Finland, which has no statutory minimum wage, Palestine mandates a wage floor of $668/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,137/mo in Palestine versus $4,542/mo in Finland, a 4.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 15.0x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Palestine has lower GDP per capita ($4,371 vs $65,378). Palestine's unemployment rate is 24.4% compared to Finland's 9.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Palestine | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | ₪86 $30.55 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪1,880 $667.73 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Palestine is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Palestine mandates 45 hours while Finland mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Finland's perspective: Finland vs Palestine
Compare Palestine with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Palestine or Finland?
In Palestine, the minimum wage is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). In Finland, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Palestine compared to Finland?
The average gross salary in Palestine is ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in Finland. In USD terms, workers in Palestine earn approximately 300% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Palestine and Finland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Palestine.
How do work hours compare between Palestine and Finland?
Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Palestine work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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 Palestine and Finland?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 15.0x that of Palestine at $4,371. From Palestine's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.