Panama vs Guinea-Bissau

In Panama, the minimum wage is B/.1.69/hr ($1.69 USD). In Guinea-Bissau, it is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 1922% 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 Panama may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

The average gross salary in Panama is B/.1,100/mo ($1,100 USD), compared to CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD) in Guinea-Bissau. In USD terms, workers in Panama earn approximately 545% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Panama and Guinea-Bissau is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Panama earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea-Bissau.

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Panama has the higher GDP per capita at $41,369, which is 13.3x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Panama'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.