Skip to main content

Key Facts: Suriname vs Dominican Republic Wages

Suriname Minimum Wage
Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD)
Dominican Republic Minimum Wage
RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD)
Suriname Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sr$5,500 /mo ($149.86 USD)
Dominican Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
RD$32,000 /mo ($526.32 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment — Suriname / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo — República Dominicana (2026-02-24)

Suriname flag Suriname Dominican Republic flag Dominican Republic

Updated 2026-02-25

Suriname flag Suriname

Minimum Wage

Sr$2,166 /mo

$59.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Sr$5,500 /mo

Dominican Republic flag Dominican Republic

Minimum Wage

RD$91.30 /hr

$1.50 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RD$32,000 /mo

Min wage: +3830% Suriname vs Dominican Republic Avg. salary: -72% Suriname vs Dominican Republic

The minimum wage in Suriname is roughly 39 times higher than in the Dominican Republic in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $150/mo in Suriname versus $526/mo in the Dominican Republic, a 3.5:1 ratio. Dominican Republic has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.1% compared to 7.8%.

Suriname has lower GDP per capita ($21,801 vs $27,542). Suriname's unemployment rate is 7.8% compared to the Dominican Republic's 5.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Suriname and Dominican Republic
Metric Suriname Dominican Republic
Minimum wage /hr RD$91.30 $1.50
Minimum wage /mo Sr$2,166 $59.02 RD$21,000 $345.39
Minimum wage /yr Sr$25,992 $708.23 RD$273,000 $4,490.13
Avg. gross salary /mo Sr$5,500 /mo $149.86 RD$32,000 /mo $526.32
Avg. net salary /mo Sr$4,700 /mo $128.07 RD$28,480 /mo $468.42
Median individual income /yr Sr$28,000 /yr $762.94 RD$204,000 /yr $3,355.26

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Suriname is higher.

Work Week

Suriname

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Suriname Labour Act sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is compensated at a minimum of 1.5x the regular wage. Sunday and public holiday work is typically at 2x.

Dominican Republic

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.35x pay

Código de Trabajo (Labour Code) sets the standard workweek at 44 hours and workday at 8 hours. Night work (6pm-6am) maximum 36 hours/week. Mixed shifts maximum 40 hours/week. Overtime paid at 35% premium for the first 68 hours/month (beyond the standard 44-hour week), and 100% premium thereafter. Sunday and holiday work paid at double the regular rate.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from the Dominican Republic to Suriname would see a 3830% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Suriname mandates 40 hours while the Dominican Republic mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Suriname are $2,361 vs $66 in the Dominican Republic.

See this comparison from Dominican Republic's perspective: Dominican Republic vs Suriname

Compare Suriname with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Suriname or Dominican Republic?

In Suriname, the minimum wage is Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD). In the Dominican Republic, it is RD$91.30/hr ($1.50 USD). Suriname has the higher rate by 3830% 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 the Dominican Republic may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Suriname compared to Dominican Republic?

The average gross salary in Suriname is Sr$5,500/mo ($149.86 USD), compared to RD$32,000/mo ($526.32 USD) in the Dominican Republic. In USD terms, workers in Suriname earn approximately 251% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Suriname and Dominican Republic is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Dominican Republic earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Suriname.

How do work hours compare between Suriname and Dominican Republic?

Dominican Republic has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Suriname. Workers in Suriname work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Suriname 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 Suriname and Dominican Republic?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Dominican Republic has the higher GDP per capita at $27,542, which is 1.3x that of Suriname at $21,801. From Suriname'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.