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Key Facts: Syria vs Serbia Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Serbia Minimum Wage
RSD271/hr ($2.52 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Serbia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
RSD110,000 /mo ($1,023.26 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs (2026-02-24)

Syria flag Syria Serbia flag Serbia

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Serbia flag Serbia

Minimum Wage

RSD271 /hr

$2.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RSD110,000 /mo

Min wage: +553% Syria vs Serbia Avg. salary: -88% Syria vs Serbia

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 7 times higher than in Serbia in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $1,023/mo in Serbia, a 8.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Serbia is 6.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $32,832). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Serbia's 7.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Serbia
Metric Syria Serbia
Minimum wage /hr RSD271 $2.52
Minimum wage /day RSD2,168 $20.17
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 RSD47,000 $437.21
Minimum wage /yr RSD564,000 $5,246.51
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 RSD110,000 /mo $1,023.26
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 RSD80,000 /mo $744.19
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr RSD600,000 /yr $5,581.40

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.

Serbia

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.26x pay

Labour Law sets full-time working hours at 40/week. Overtime: minimum 26% surcharge. Night work (22:00-06:00): minimum 26% surcharge. Holiday work: minimum 110% surcharge. Maximum overtime is 8 hours/week. Reduced working hours (36 or fewer) for hazardous occupations.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Serbia to Syria would see a 553% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Serbia mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $101 in Serbia.

See this comparison from Serbia's perspective: Serbia vs Syria

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Serbia?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Serbia, it is RSD271/hr ($2.52 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 553% 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 Serbia 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 Serbia?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to RSD110,000/mo ($1,023.26 USD) in Serbia. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 752% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Serbia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Serbia 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 Serbia?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Serbia. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Serbia 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 Serbia?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Serbia has the higher GDP per capita at $32,832, which is 6.9x 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.