Skip to main content

Key Facts: Thailand vs Iran Wages

Thailand Minimum Wage
฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
Iran Minimum Wage
﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 USD)
Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27), Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04)

Thailand flag Thailand Iran flag Iran

Updated 2026-05-27

Thailand flag Thailand

Minimum Wage

฿10,400 /mo

$319.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

฿15,700 /mo

Iran flag Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Min wage: +31259% Thailand vs Iran Avg. salary: -18% Thailand vs Iran

The minimum wage in Thailand is roughly 314 times higher than in Iran in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Thailand at $482/mo compared to $588/mo in Iran. Thailand has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.8% compared to 8.3%.

Thailand has higher GDP per capita ($24,712 vs $19,874). Thailand's unemployment rate is 0.8% compared to Iran's 8.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Thailand and Iran
Metric Thailand Iran
Minimum wage /hr ﷼692,731 $1.02
Minimum wage /day ฿400 $12.29 ﷼5,541,850 $8.15
Minimum wage /mo ฿10,400 $319.46 ﷼166,255,500 $244.49
Minimum wage /yr ฿124,800 $3,833.51 ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92
Avg. gross salary /mo ฿15,700 /mo $482.26 ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24
Avg. net salary /mo ฿14,915 /mo $458.15 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Thailand is higher.

Work Week

Thailand

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Protection Act sets maximum 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week for general work (42 hours for hazardous work). Overtime at 1.5x base rate. Holiday work at 1x additional. Holiday overtime at 3x. Employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 overtime hours per week.

Iran

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Iran to Thailand would see a 31259% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Thailand mandates 48 hours while Iran mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Thailand are $15,334 vs $45 in Iran.

See this comparison from Iran's perspective: Iran vs Thailand

Compare Thailand with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Thailand or Iran?

In Thailand, the minimum wage is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 31259% 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 Iran may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Thailand compared to Iran?

The average gross salary in Thailand is ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD), compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in Thailand earn approximately 22% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Thailand and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Thailand.

How do work hours compare between Thailand and Iran?

Thailand has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Thailand work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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 Thailand and Iran?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Thailand has the higher GDP per capita at $24,712, which is 1.2x that of Iran at $19,874. From Thailand's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.