Key Facts: Thailand vs Syria Wages
- Thailand Minimum Wage
- ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Thailand
Syria
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Thailand is roughly 19 times higher than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $482/mo in Thailand versus $120/mo in Syria, a 4.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Thailand is 5.2x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Thailand's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Thailand's minimum wage buys more than Syria's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Thailand is $991 international dollars, compared to $1 in Syria. Thailand has higher GDP per capita ($24,712 vs $4,772). Thailand's unemployment rate is 0.8% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Thailand | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | ฿400 $12.29 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ฿10,400 $319.46 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ฿124,800 $3,833.51 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ฿15,700 /mo $482.26 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ฿14,915 /mo $458.15 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
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.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Syria to Thailand would see a 1841% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Thailand
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Thailand or Syria?
In Thailand, the minimum wage is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 1841% 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 Syria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Thailand compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Thailand is ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Thailand earn approximately 301% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Thailand and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Thailand earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Thailand or Syria?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Thailand can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $991 in Thailand and $1 in Syria. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 94086% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Syria appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Thailand and Syria?
Both Thailand and Syria mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Thailand and Syria?
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 5.2x that of Syria at $4,772. 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.