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Key Facts: Romania vs Syria Wages

Romania Minimum Wage
lei24.36/hr ($5.30 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Romania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
lei7,200 /mo ($1,565.05 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Government of Romania (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Romania flag Romania Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-02-25

Romania flag Romania

Minimum Wage

lei24.36 /hr

$5.30 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

lei7,200 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -68% Romania vs Syria Avg. salary: +1203% Romania vs Syria

The minimum wage in Romania is 68% lower than in Syria in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,565/mo in Romania versus $120/mo in Syria, a 13.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Romania is 10.3x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Romania has higher GDP per capita ($49,077 vs $4,772). Romania's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Romania and Syria
Metric Romania Syria
Minimum wage /hr lei24.36 $5.30
Minimum wage /mo lei4,050 $880.34 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr lei48,600 $10,564.07
Avg. gross salary /mo lei7,200 /mo $1,565.05 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo lei4,500 /mo $978.15 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr lei40,000 /yr $8,694.71 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Romania

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.75x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days, maximum 8 hours/day. Overtime premium is at least 75% of base salary. Maximum 48 hours/week including overtime, averaged over a 4-month reference period.

Syria

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Romania earns 211% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Romania mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Romania are $212 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Romania

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Romania or Syria?

In Romania, the minimum wage is lei24.36/hr ($5.30 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 211% 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 Romania may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Romania compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Romania is lei7,200/mo ($1,565.05 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Romania earn approximately 1203% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Romania and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Romania earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Romania and Syria?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Romania has the higher GDP per capita at $49,077, which is 10.3x that of Syria at $4,772. From Romania'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.