Key Facts: Saudi Arabia vs Eritrea Wages
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; minimum wage for Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/mo unchanged since March 2021 Nitaqat reforms (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Saudi Arabia 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is roughly 6 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 7.0:1 ratio. Saudi Arabia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 6.0%.
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Saudi Arabia | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ﷼23.08 $6.15 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ﷼48,000 $12,800 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Saudi Arabia is higher.
Work Week
- Saudi Arabia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Saudi Arabia earns 550% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Saudi Arabia are $295 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia
Compare Saudi Arabia with...
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Saudi Arabia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Is the minimum wage higher in Saudi Arabia or Eritrea?
In Saudi Arabia, the minimum wage is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 550% 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 Saudi Arabia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Saudi Arabia compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Saudi Arabia is ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 600% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Saudi Arabia and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Saudi Arabia and Eritrea?
Saudi Arabia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Saudi Arabia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.