Key Facts: Ukraine vs Syria Wages
- Ukraine Minimum Wage
- ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Ukraine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₴20,000 /mo ($478.47 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economy of Ukraine / State Statistics Service (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Ukraine
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Ukraine is roughly 14 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $478/mo in Ukraine versus $120/mo in Syria, a 4.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ukraine is 3.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Ukraine has higher GDP per capita ($18,550 vs $4,772). Ukraine's unemployment rate is 9.8% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ukraine | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₴48 $1.15 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | ₴266.67 $6.38 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₴8,000 $191.39 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₴96,000 $2,296.65 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₴20,000 /mo $478.47 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₴16,400 /mo $392.34 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₴120,000 /yr $2,870.81 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ukraine is higher.
Work Week
- Ukraine
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at double the normal rate and limited to 4 hours over 2 consecutive days, 120 hours/year. Under martial law (from Feb 2022), employers may increase working hours to 60/week and suspend certain labour protections with government approval.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Ukraine earns 1334% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Ukraine mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ukraine are $46 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Ukraine
Compare Ukraine with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ukraine or Syria?
In Ukraine, the minimum wage is ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1334% 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 Ukraine may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ukraine compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Ukraine is ₴20,000/mo ($478.47 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Ukraine earn approximately 298% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ukraine and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ukraine earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Ukraine and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ukraine. Workers in Ukraine work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ukraine 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 Ukraine and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ukraine has the higher GDP per capita at $18,550, which is 3.9x that of Syria at $4,772. From Ukraine'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.