Key Facts: Aruba vs Belgium Wages
- Aruba Minimum Wage
- ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD)
- Belgium Minimum Wage
- €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD)
- Aruba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ƒ2,401.67 /mo ($1,341.72 USD)
- Belgium Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,886 /mo ($4,525.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Aruba — Department of Labor and Research (2026-05-04), SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation Sociale; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Aruba
Belgium
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Aruba is 58% lower than in Belgium in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,342/mo in Aruba versus $4,525/mo in Belgium, a 3.4:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Aruba | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ƒ11.58 $6.47 | €13.30 $15.49 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ƒ2,007.20 $1,121.34 | €2,189.81 $2,550.15 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ƒ24,086.40 $13,456.09 | €26,277.72 $30,601.75 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ƒ2,401.67 /mo $1,341.72 | €3,886 /mo $4,525.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 |
| Median individual income /yr | ƒ27,040 /yr $15,106.15 | €33,000 /yr $38,430.19 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Aruba is higher.
Work Week
- Aruba
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Workweeks of 42, 44, and 45 hours are also permitted with adjusted hourly rates. Governed by the Landsverordening minimumlonen (Ordinance on Minimum Wages).
- Belgium
-
38 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 38 hours (Labour Act). Daily maximum is 8 hours (9 hours with flexible schedules). Overtime requires authorization and must be compensated at 150% on weekdays and 200% on Sundays/public holidays. Compensatory time off is also required. EU Working Time Directive caps average at 48 hrs/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Aruba earns 139% less per hour in USD terms than one in Belgium. Standard work weeks differ: Aruba mandates 40 hours while Belgium mandates 38 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Aruba are $259 vs $589 in Belgium.
See this comparison from Belgium's perspective: Belgium vs Aruba
Compare Aruba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Aruba or Belgium?
In Aruba, the minimum wage is ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD). In Belgium, it is €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD). Belgium has the higher rate by 139% 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 Aruba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Aruba compared to Belgium?
The average gross salary in Aruba is ƒ2,401.67/mo ($1,341.72 USD), compared to €3,886/mo ($4,525.45 USD) in Belgium. In USD terms, workers in Aruba earn approximately 237% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Aruba and Belgium is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belgium earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Aruba.
How do work hours compare between Aruba and Belgium?
Aruba has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 38 hours in Belgium. Workers in Aruba work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Belgium 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.