Key Facts: Palestine vs Spain Wages
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Spain Minimum Wage
- €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD)
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Spain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,450 /mo ($2,853.15 USD)
- Data Sources
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (2026-03-02)
Palestine
Spain
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Palestine is roughly 72 times higher than in Spain in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,137/mo in Palestine versus $2,853/mo in Spain, a 2.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Spain is 13.3x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Palestine has lower GDP per capita ($4,371 vs $57,965). Palestine's unemployment rate is 24.4% compared to Spain's 10.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Palestine | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €7.96 $9.27 |
| Minimum wage /day | ₪86 $30.55 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪1,880 $667.73 | €1,221 $1,421.92 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €17,094 $19,906.84 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57 | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €1,900 /mo $2,212.65 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €22,000 /yr $25,620.12 |
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.
- Spain
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Spain to Palestine would see a 7103% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Palestine mandates 45 hours while Spain mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Palestine are $30,048 vs $371 in Spain.
See this comparison from Spain's perspective: Spain vs Palestine
Compare Palestine with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Palestine or Spain?
In Palestine, the minimum wage is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). In Spain, it is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). Palestine has the higher rate by 7103% 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 Spain may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Palestine compared to Spain?
The average gross salary in Palestine is ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD), compared to €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD) in Spain. In USD terms, workers in Palestine earn approximately 151% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Palestine and Spain is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain 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 Spain?
Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Palestine work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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 Spain?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Spain has the higher GDP per capita at $57,965, which is 13.3x 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.