Key Facts: Russia vs South Sudan Wages
- Russia Minimum Wage
- ₽156.31/hr ($1.61 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Russia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₽100,316 /mo ($1,034.19 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (Минтруд России); Federal Law 548-FZ verified via ConsultantPlus (consultant.ru/law/hotdocs/91688.html) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Russia
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
Russia, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,034/mo in Russia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 38.0:1 ratio. Russia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.1% compared to 12.4%.
Russia's unemployment rate is 2.1% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Russia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₽156.31 $1.61 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₽27,093 $279.31 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₽325,116 $3,351.71 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₽100,316 /mo $1,034.19 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₽87,275 /mo $899.74 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₽880,800 /yr $9,080.41 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Russia is higher.
Work Week
- Russia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hrs/week standard. Reduced hours for certain categories: under-16 (24 hrs), 16-18 (35 hrs), hazardous work (36 hrs). First 2 hours of overtime: 1.5x; subsequent hours: 2.0x. Overtime limited to 4 hrs over 2 consecutive days, 120 hrs/year. Public holidays (14 per year) are paid non-working days.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Russia would see a 6% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Russia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Russia or South Sudan?
In Russia, the minimum wage is ₽156.31/hr ($1.61 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Russia has the higher rate by 6% 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 South Sudan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Russia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Russia is ₽100,316/mo ($1,034.19 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Russia earn approximately 3698% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Russia and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Russia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Russia and South Sudan?
Both Russia and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.