Key Facts: Turkey vs Rwanda Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- Rwanda Minimum Wage
- FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 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), Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25)
Turkey
Rwanda
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkey is roughly 373 times higher than in Rwanda in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $555/mo in Turkey versus $51/mo in Rwanda, a 11.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Turkey is 12.3x that of Rwanda, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Turkey's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Turkey's minimum wage buys more than Rwanda's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Turkey is $14 international dollars, compared to $0 in Rwanda. Turkey has higher GDP per capita ($45,639 vs $3,711). Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Rwanda's 11.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.59 | FRw14.08 $0.01 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $719.70 | FRw2,440 $1.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 | FRw73,948 /mo $50.61 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 | FRw62,000 /mo $42.44 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FRw240,000 /yr $164.27 |
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.
- Rwanda
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 55 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Rwanda to Turkey would see a 37192% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Rwanda's perspective: Rwanda vs Turkey
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Rwanda?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In Rwanda, it is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). Turkey has the higher rate by 37192% 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 Rwanda 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 Rwanda?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD) in Rwanda. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 997% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Rwanda 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 Rwanda.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Turkey or Rwanda?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Turkey can afford more than those in Rwanda. The PPP-adjusted rate is $14 in Turkey and $0 in Rwanda. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 36325% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Rwanda appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and Rwanda?
Both Turkey and Rwanda mandate a similar standard work week of 45 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 Turkey and Rwanda?
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 12.3x that of Rwanda at $3,711. 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.