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Key Facts: Saudi Arabia vs Sudan Wages

Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
Sudan Minimum Wage
ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD)
Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ج.س.85,000 /mo ($140.50 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 / Sudan Labour Code (2026-02-25)

Saudi Arabia flag Saudi Arabia Sudan flag Sudan

Updated 2026-05-04

Saudi Arabia flag Saudi Arabia

Minimum Wage

﷼23.08 /hr

$6.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼10,500 /mo

Sudan flag Sudan

Minimum Wage

ج.س.30,000 /mo

$49.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ج.س.85,000 /mo

Min wage: -88% Saudi Arabia vs Sudan Avg. salary: +1893% Saudi Arabia vs Sudan

The minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is roughly 8 times lower than in Sudan 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 $140/mo in Sudan, a 19.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Saudi Arabia is 33.7x that of Sudan, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Saudi Arabia has higher GDP per capita ($71,375 vs $2,116). Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Sudan's 7.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Saudi Arabia and Sudan
Metric Saudi Arabia Sudan
Minimum wage /hr ﷼23.08 $6.15
Minimum wage /mo ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 ج.س.30,000 $49.59
Minimum wage /yr ﷼48,000 $12,800
Avg. gross salary /mo ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 ج.س.85,000 /mo $140.50
Avg. net salary /mo ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 N/A/mo

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).

Sudan

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act of 2017 sets standard hours at 8 per day / 40 per week. Maximum with overtime is 48 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (Islamic calendar). These provisions apply to formal employment only and enforcement has been severely disrupted by the 2023 conflict.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Saudi Arabia earns 706% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours while Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Saudi Arabia are $295 vs $1,983 in Sudan.

See this comparison from Sudan's perspective: Sudan vs Saudi Arabia

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Saudi Arabia or Sudan?

In Saudi Arabia, the minimum wage is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). In Sudan, it is ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD). Sudan has the higher rate by 706% 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 Sudan?

The average gross salary in Saudi Arabia is ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD), compared to ج.س.85,000/mo ($140.50 USD) in Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 1893% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Saudi Arabia and 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 Sudan.

How do work hours compare between Saudi Arabia and Sudan?

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

What is the cost of living difference between Saudi Arabia and Sudan?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Saudi Arabia has the higher GDP per capita at $71,375, which is 33.7x that of Sudan at $2,116. From Saudi Arabia'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.