Key Facts: Syria vs Kenya Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27)
Syria
Kenya
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 27 times higher than in Kenya in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $326/mo in Kenya, a 2.7:1 ratio. Kenya has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.5% compared to 13.6%.
Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $6,644). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Kenya's 5.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | KSh93 $0.61 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 |
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.
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Kenya to Syria would see a 2617% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Kenya mandates 52 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $32 in Kenya.
See this comparison from Kenya's perspective: Kenya vs Syria
Compare Syria with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Kenya?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Kenya, it is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 2617% 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 Kenya 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 Kenya?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD) in Kenya. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 171% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Kenya is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kenya 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 Kenya?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 48 hours in Syria. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Syria 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 Kenya?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Kenya has the higher GDP per capita at $6,644, which is 1.4x 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.