Key Facts: Saudi Arabia vs South Sudan Wages
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 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 / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Saudi Arabia
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is 304% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 102.8:1 ratio. Saudi Arabia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 12.4%.
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Saudi Arabia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ﷼23.08 $6.15 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ﷼48,000 $12,800 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
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).
- 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 Saudi Arabia would see a 304% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Saudi Arabia are $295 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Saudi Arabia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Saudi Arabia or South Sudan?
In Saudi Arabia, the minimum wage is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Saudi Arabia has the higher rate by 304% 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 Saudi Arabia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Saudi Arabia is ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 10184% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Saudi Arabia and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Saudi Arabia and South Sudan?
Saudi Arabia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Saudi Arabia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Sudan 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.