Key Facts: Serbia vs Syria Wages
- Serbia Minimum Wage
- RSD271/hr ($2.52 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Serbia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- RSD110,000 /mo ($1,023.26 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Serbia
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Serbia is roughly 7 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,023/mo in Serbia versus $120/mo in Syria, a 8.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Serbia is 6.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Serbia has higher GDP per capita ($32,832 vs $4,772). Serbia's unemployment rate is 7.1% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Serbia | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | RSD271 $2.52 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | RSD2,168 $20.17 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | RSD47,000 $437.21 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | RSD564,000 $5,246.51 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | RSD110,000 /mo $1,023.26 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | RSD80,000 /mo $744.19 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | RSD600,000 /yr $5,581.40 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Serbia is higher.
Work Week
- Serbia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.26x pay
Labour Law sets full-time working hours at 40/week. Overtime: minimum 26% surcharge. Night work (22:00-06:00): minimum 26% surcharge. Holiday work: minimum 110% surcharge. Maximum overtime is 8 hours/week. Reduced working hours (36 or fewer) for hazardous occupations.
- 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 Serbia earns 553% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Serbia mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Serbia are $101 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Serbia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Serbia or Syria?
In Serbia, the minimum wage is RSD271/hr ($2.52 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 553% 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 Serbia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Serbia compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Serbia is RSD110,000/mo ($1,023.26 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Serbia earn approximately 752% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Serbia and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Serbia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Serbia and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Serbia. Workers in Serbia work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Serbia 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 Serbia and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Serbia has the higher GDP per capita at $32,832, which is 6.9x that of Syria at $4,772. From Serbia'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.