Key Facts: Somalia vs Bulgaria Wages
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Bulgaria Minimum Wage
- лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Bulgaria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- лв2,200 /mo ($1,325.30 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04)
Somalia
Bulgaria
Updated 2026-05-04
Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Bulgaria sets a floor of $4/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $1,325/mo in Bulgaria, a 5.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bulgaria is 26.2x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $41,969). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Bulgaria's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Somalia | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | лв7.30 $4.40 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | лв1,213 $730.72 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | лв14,556 $8,768.67 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 | лв2,200 /mo $1,325.30 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 | лв1,720 /mo $1,036.14 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | лв14,400 /yr $8,674.70 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Somalia is higher.
Work Week
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
- Bulgaria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 75% for weekends, 100% for public holidays. Annual overtime limit of 150 hours.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Bulgaria mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Bulgaria's perspective: Bulgaria vs Somalia
Compare Somalia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Bulgaria?
In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Bulgaria, it is лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD).
How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Bulgaria?
The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to лв2,200/mo ($1,325.30 USD) in Bulgaria. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 404% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Bulgaria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bulgaria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Somalia and Bulgaria?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Bulgaria. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Bulgaria 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 Somalia and Bulgaria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bulgaria has the higher GDP per capita at $41,969, which is 26.2x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Somalia's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.