Key Facts: Thailand vs Tanzania Wages
- Thailand Minimum Wage
- ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
- Tanzania Minimum Wage
- TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD)
- Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 USD)
- Tanzania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TZS650,000 /mo ($244.36 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27), 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)
Thailand
Tanzania
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Thailand is roughly 841 times higher than in Tanzania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Thailand at $482/mo compared to $244/mo in Tanzania. GDP per capita (PPP) in Thailand is 5.9x that of Tanzania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Thailand has higher GDP per capita ($24,712 vs $4,221). Thailand's unemployment rate is 0.8% compared to Tanzania's 1.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Thailand | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | TZS1,010 $0.38 |
| Minimum wage /day | ฿400 $12.29 | TZS5,833 $2.19 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ฿10,400 $319.46 | TZS175,000 $65.79 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ฿124,800 $3,833.51 | TZS2,100,000 $789.47 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ฿15,700 /mo $482.26 | TZS650,000 /mo $244.36 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ฿14,915 /mo $458.15 | TZS520,000 /mo $195.49 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | TZS2,400,000 /yr $902.26 |
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.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Tanzania to Thailand would see a 84035% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Thailand mandates 48 hours while Tanzania mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Thailand are $15,334 vs $17 in Tanzania.
See this comparison from Tanzania's perspective: Tanzania vs Thailand
Compare Thailand with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Thailand or Tanzania?
In Thailand, the minimum wage is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). In Tanzania, it is TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 84035% 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 more does the average worker earn in Thailand compared to Tanzania?
The average gross salary in Thailand is ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD), compared to TZS650,000/mo ($244.36 USD) in Tanzania. In USD terms, workers in Thailand earn approximately 97% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Thailand and Tanzania 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 Tanzania.
How do work hours compare between Thailand and Tanzania?
Thailand has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Tanzania. Workers in Thailand work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Tanzania 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 Tanzania?
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 5.9x that of Tanzania at $4,221. 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.