Key Facts: Syria vs Brunei Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
Syria
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 8 times higher than in Brunei in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 16.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Brunei is 18.8x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $89,879). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Syria is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Brunei to Syria would see a 698% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Brunei mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $91 in Brunei.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Brunei?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 698% 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 Brunei may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Syria compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 1539% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Syria and Brunei?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brunei. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brunei 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 Syria and Brunei?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brunei has the higher GDP per capita at $89,879, which is 18.8x that of Syria at $4,772. From Syria'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.