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Key Facts: Turkey vs Philippines Wages

Turkey Minimum Wage
₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
Philippines Minimum Wage
₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD)
Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
Philippines Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₱20,000 /mo ($323.88 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) / National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC); 2025 figures verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 18 July 2025) (2026-05-04)

Turkey flag Turkey Philippines flag Philippines

Updated 2026-05-04

Turkey flag Turkey

Minimum Wage

₺164.94 /hr

$3.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₺25,482 /mo

Philippines flag Philippines

Minimum Wage

₱18,070 /mo

$292.62 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₱20,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Turkey vs Philippines Avg. salary: +71% Turkey vs Philippines

The minimum wage in Turkey is roughly 81 times lower than in the Philippines in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Turkey at $555/mo compared to $324/mo in the Philippines. GDP per capita (PPP) in Turkey is 3.9x that of Philippines, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Turkey has higher GDP per capita ($45,639 vs $11,794). Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to the Philippines' 2.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Turkey and Philippines
Metric Turkey Philippines
Minimum wage /hr ₺164.94 $3.59
Minimum wage /day ₱695 $11.25
Minimum wage /mo ₺33,030 $719.70 ₱18,070 $292.62
Minimum wage /yr ₺396,360 $8,636.42 ₱234,910 $3,804.09
Avg. gross salary /mo ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 ₱20,000 /mo $323.88
Avg. net salary /mo ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 ₱17,600 /mo $285.01
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr ₱156,000 /yr $2,526.23

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

Work Week

Turkey

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.

Philippines

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labor Code sets normal working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (6-day week). Overtime: 25% premium on regular days, 30% on rest days/holidays. Night shift differential (10pm-6am): 10% additional. Special non-working holidays: 30% premium. Regular holidays: 100% premium.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Turkey earns 8042% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Philippines. Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while the Philippines mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkey are $162 vs $14,046 in the Philippines.

See this comparison from Philippines's perspective: Philippines vs Turkey

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Philippines?

In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In the Philippines, it is ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD). Philippines has the higher rate by 8042% 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 Turkey may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Turkey compared to Philippines?

The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to ₱20,000/mo ($323.88 USD) in the Philippines. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 71% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Philippines is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in the Philippines.

How do work hours compare between Turkey and Philippines?

Philippines has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Turkey. Workers in Turkey work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkey 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 Turkey and Philippines?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Turkey has the higher GDP per capita at $45,639, which is 3.9x that of Philippines at $11,794. From Turkey'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.