Key Facts: Tanzania vs Eritrea Wages
- Tanzania Minimum Wage
- TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Tanzania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TZS650,000 /mo ($244.36 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 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 / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Tanzania 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Tanzania is roughly 105 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Tanzania at $244/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Tanzania has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 6.0%.
Tanzania's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Tanzania | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | TZS1,010 $0.38 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | TZS5,833 $2.19 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | TZS175,000 $65.79 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | TZS2,100,000 $789.47 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | TZS650,000 /mo $244.36 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | TZS520,000 /mo $195.49 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| 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.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Tanzania earns 10435% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Tanzania mandates 45 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Tanzania are $17 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Tanzania
Compare Tanzania with...
Tanzania vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Tanzania vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Tanzania vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Tanzania vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Tanzania vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Tanzania vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Tanzania vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Tanzania vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Tanzania vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Tanzania vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Tanzania vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Tanzania vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Tanzania vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Tanzania vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Tanzania vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Tanzania vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Tanzania vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Tanzania vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Tanzania vs Switzerland 
Tanzania vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Tanzania vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Tanzania vs Sweden 
Tanzania vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Tanzania vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Tanzania or Eritrea?
In Tanzania, the minimum wage is TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 10435% 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Tanzania is TZS650,000/mo ($244.36 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Tanzania earn approximately 64% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Tanzania and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea 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 Eritrea?
Tanzania has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Tanzania work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.