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Key Facts: Somalia vs Chile Wages

Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Chile Minimum Wage
CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Chile Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CLP750,000 /mo ($816.99 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25), Dirección del Trabajo / Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social; 2026 rate per Ley 21.751 (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-27)

Somalia flag Somalia Chile flag Chile

Updated 2026-05-27

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Chile flag Chile

Minimum Wage

CLP2,994 /hr

$3.26 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CLP750,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -68% Somalia vs Chile

Somalia has no statutory minimum wage, while Chile sets a floor of $3/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $263/mo in Somalia versus $817/mo in Chile, a 3.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Chile is 22.6x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Somalia has lower GDP per capita ($1,602 vs $36,181). Somalia's unemployment rate is 18.9% compared to Chile's 9.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Somalia and Chile
Metric Somalia Chile
Minimum wage /hr None CLP2,994 $3.26
Minimum wage /mo None CLP539,000 $587.15
Minimum wage /yr None CLP7,007,000 $7,632.90
Avg. gross salary /mo Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 CLP750,000 /mo $816.99
Avg. net salary /mo Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 CLP622,500 /mo $678.10
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr CLP6,000,000 /yr $6,535.95

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.

Chile

43 hrs/wk standard

Max 43 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Ley de 40 horas (Ley 21.561) is reducing the workweek in steps: 45h → 44h (April 2024) → 43h (April 2026) → 40h (April 2028). As of April 26, 2026 the standard is 43h. Final reduction to 40h takes effect April 2028. Overtime paid at 50% premium, maximum 2 hours/day. Distributed across 5 or 6 working days.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Somalia mandates 48 hours while Chile mandates 43 hours.

See this comparison from Chile's perspective: Chile vs Somalia

Compare Somalia with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Somalia or Chile?

In Somalia, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Chile, it is CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD).

How much less does the average worker earn in Somalia compared to Chile?

The average gross salary in Somalia is Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD), compared to CLP750,000/mo ($816.99 USD) in Chile. In USD terms, workers in Somalia earn approximately 211% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Somalia and Chile is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chile 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 Chile?

Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 43 hours in Chile. Workers in Somalia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chile 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 Chile?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Chile has the higher GDP per capita at $36,181, which is 22.6x 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.