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Key Facts: Suriname vs Israel Wages

Suriname Minimum Wage
Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD)
Israel Minimum Wage
₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
Suriname Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sr$5,500 /mo ($149.86 USD)
Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment — Suriname / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)

Suriname flag Suriname Israel flag Israel

Updated 2026-05-04

Suriname flag Suriname

Minimum Wage

Sr$2,166 /mo

$59.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Sr$5,500 /mo

Israel flag Israel

Minimum Wage

₪35.40 /hr

$12.57 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₪12,000 /mo

Min wage: +369% Suriname vs Israel Avg. salary: -96% Suriname vs Israel

The minimum wage in Suriname is 369% higher than in Israel when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $150/mo in Suriname versus $4,262/mo in Israel, a 28.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Israel is 2.6x that of Suriname, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Suriname has lower GDP per capita ($21,801 vs $57,236). Suriname's unemployment rate is 7.8% compared to Israel's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Suriname and Israel
Metric Suriname Israel
Minimum wage /hr ₪35.40 $12.57
Minimum wage /mo Sr$2,166 $59.02 ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71
Minimum wage /yr Sr$25,992 $708.23 ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46
Avg. gross salary /mo Sr$5,500 /mo $149.86 ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12
Avg. net salary /mo Sr$4,700 /mo $128.07 ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59
Median individual income /yr Sr$28,000 /yr $762.94 ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08

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.

Israel

42 hrs/wk standard

Max 42 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Israel to Suriname would see a 369% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Suriname mandates 40 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Suriname are $2,361 vs $528 in Israel.

See this comparison from Israel's perspective: Israel vs Suriname

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Suriname or Israel?

In Suriname, the minimum wage is Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD). In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Suriname has the higher rate by 369% 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 Israel 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 Israel?

The average gross salary in Suriname is Sr$5,500/mo ($149.86 USD), compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Suriname earn approximately 2744% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Suriname and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel 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 Israel?

Israel has a longer standard work week at 42 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 Israel?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Israel has the higher GDP per capita at $57,236, which is 2.6x 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.