Key Facts: Palestine vs Somalia Wages
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Palestine
Somalia
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Somalia, 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 $263/mo in Somalia, a 4.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Palestine is 2.7x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Palestine has higher GDP per capita ($4,371 vs $1,602). Palestine's unemployment rate is 24.4% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Palestine | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
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.
- 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: Palestine mandates 45 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Palestine
Compare Palestine with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Palestine or Somalia?
In Palestine, the minimum wage is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Palestine compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Palestine is ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Palestine earn approximately 333% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Palestine and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Palestine earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Palestine and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Palestine. Workers in Palestine work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Palestine 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 Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Palestine has the higher GDP per capita at $4,371, which is 2.7x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Palestine'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.