Key Facts: Aruba vs Netherlands Wages
- Aruba Minimum Wage
- ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD)
- Netherlands Minimum Wage
- €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
- Aruba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ƒ2,401.67 /mo ($1,341.72 USD)
- Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Aruba — Department of Labor and Research (2026-05-04), Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27)
Aruba 
Netherlands
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Aruba is 62% lower than in the Netherlands in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,342/mo in Aruba versus $4,542/mo in the Netherlands, a 3.4:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Aruba | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ƒ11.58 $6.47 | €14.71 $17.13 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ƒ2,007.20 $1,121.34 | €2,549.73 $2,969.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ƒ24,086.40 $13,456.09 | €30,596.76 $35,631.49 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ƒ2,401.67 /mo $1,341.72 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | ƒ27,040 /yr $15,106.15 | €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 |
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).
- Netherlands
-
36 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Aruba earns 165% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Netherlands. Standard work weeks differ: Aruba mandates 40 hours while the Netherlands mandates 36 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Aruba are $259 vs $617 in the Netherlands.
See this comparison from Netherlands's perspective: Netherlands vs Aruba
Compare Aruba with...
Aruba vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Aruba vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Aruba vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Aruba vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Aruba vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Aruba vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Aruba vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Aruba vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Aruba vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Aruba vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Aruba vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Aruba vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Aruba vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Aruba vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Aruba vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Aruba vs Switzerland 
Aruba vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Aruba vs Sweden 
Aruba vs Singapore 
Aruba vs Norway 
Aruba vs Austria 
Aruba vs Denmark 
Aruba vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr 
Aruba vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.5 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Aruba or Netherlands?
In Aruba, the minimum wage is ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD). In the Netherlands, it is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD). Netherlands has the higher rate by 165% 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 Netherlands?
The average gross salary in Aruba is ƒ2,401.67/mo ($1,341.72 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in the Netherlands. In USD terms, workers in Aruba earn approximately 239% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Aruba and Netherlands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
Aruba has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in Aruba work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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.