Key Facts: Syria vs Greece Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Greece Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Greece Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,400 /mo ($1,630.37 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Syria
Greece
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Syria is 166% higher than in Greece when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $1,630/mo in Greece, a 13.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Greece is 9.3x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $44,327). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Greece's 8.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €5.31 $6.18 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | €920 $1,071.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €12,880 $14,999.42 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | €1,400 /mo $1,630.37 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | €1,100 /mo $1,281.01 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €12,800 /yr $14,906.25 |
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.
- Greece
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.2x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours across 5 days (Labour Law). Overtime beyond 40 hours is compensated at 120% for the first 5 hours per week and 140% thereafter. In 2024, Greece introduced optional 6-day workweek legislation for certain industries, with the 6th day paid at 140%. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Greece to Syria would see a 166% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Greece mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $247 in Greece.
See this comparison from Greece's perspective: Greece vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Greece?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Greece, it is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 166% 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 Greece 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 Greece?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to €1,400/mo ($1,630.37 USD) in Greece. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 1257% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Greece is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Greece 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 Greece?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Greece. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Greece 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 Greece?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Greece has the higher GDP per capita at $44,327, which is 9.3x 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.