Key Facts: Tanzania vs Djibouti Wages
- Tanzania Minimum Wage
- TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD)
- Djibouti Minimum Wage
- Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
- Tanzania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TZS650,000 /mo ($244.36 USD)
- Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities; Labour Institutions (Minimum Wage for Private Sector) Order, 2025 — Government Notice No. 605A, gazetted 13 October 2025, eff 1 January 2026 (kazi.go.tz PDF) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25)
Tanzania
Djibouti
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Tanzania is roughly 519 times lower than in Djibouti in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $244/mo in Tanzania versus $675/mo in Djibouti, a 2.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Djibouti is 1.9x that of Tanzania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Tanzania has lower GDP per capita ($4,221 vs $7,810). Tanzania's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Djibouti's 26.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Tanzania | Djibouti |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | TZS1,010 $0.38 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | TZS5,833 $2.19 | Fdj1,400 $7.88 |
| Minimum wage /mo | TZS175,000 $65.79 | Fdj35,000 $196.94 |
| Minimum wage /yr | TZS2,100,000 $789.47 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | TZS650,000 /mo $244.36 | Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | TZS520,000 /mo $195.49 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | TZS2,400,000 /yr $902.26 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Tanzania is higher.
Work Week
- Tanzania
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment and Labour Relations Act sets ordinary working hours at 45 per week (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or various combinations not exceeding 45). Overtime: 150% of normal rate. Public holiday work: 200%. Maximum overtime is 50 hours in any 4-week cycle. Night work restrictions apply to pregnant women and young persons.
- Djibouti
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Arabic and French are official languages. The labour force is supplemented by a large number of migrant workers from Ethiopia and Somalia.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Tanzania earns 51767% less per hour in USD terms than one in Djibouti. Standard work weeks differ: Tanzania mandates 45 hours while Djibouti mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Tanzania are $17 vs $7,878 in Djibouti.
See this comparison from Djibouti's perspective: Djibouti vs Tanzania
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Tanzania or Djibouti?
In Tanzania, the minimum wage is TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD). In Djibouti, it is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). Djibouti has the higher rate by 51767% 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 Tanzania may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Tanzania compared to Djibouti?
The average gross salary in Tanzania is TZS650,000/mo ($244.36 USD), compared to Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD) in Djibouti. In USD terms, workers in Tanzania earn approximately 176% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Tanzania and Djibouti is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Djibouti earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Tanzania.
How do work hours compare between Tanzania and Djibouti?
Tanzania has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Djibouti. Workers in Tanzania work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Djibouti 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 Tanzania and Djibouti?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Djibouti has the higher GDP per capita at $7,810, which is 1.9x that of Tanzania at $4,221. From Tanzania'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.