Key Facts: Aruba vs Portugal Wages
- Aruba Minimum Wage
- ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD)
- Portugal Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD)
- Aruba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ƒ2,401.67 /mo ($1,341.72 USD)
- Portugal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,550 /mo ($1,805.05 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Aruba — Department of Labor and Research (2026-05-04), Government of Portugal (Governo de Portugal); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04)
Aruba
Portugal
Updated 2026-05-04
Both high-income economies, Aruba and Portugal set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are lower in Aruba at $1,342/mo compared to $1,805/mo in Portugal.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Aruba | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ƒ11.58 $6.47 | €5.31 $6.18 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ƒ2,007.20 $1,121.34 | €920 $1,071.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ƒ24,086.40 $13,456.09 | €12,880 $14,999.42 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ƒ2,401.67 /mo $1,341.72 | €1,550 /mo $1,805.05 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €1,150 /mo $1,339.23 |
| Median individual income /yr | ƒ27,040 /yr $15,106.15 | €14,000 /yr $16,303.71 |
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).
- Portugal
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). The first hour of overtime on a working day is paid at 125%, subsequent hours at 137.5%. Overtime on rest days and public holidays is paid at 150%. Maximum 150 hours of overtime per year (can be increased to 200 by collective agreement). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Portugal to Aruba would see a 5% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Portugal's perspective: Portugal vs Aruba
Compare Aruba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Aruba or Portugal?
In Aruba, the minimum wage is ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD). In Portugal, it is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). Aruba has the higher rate by 5% 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 Portugal 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 Portugal?
The average gross salary in Aruba is ƒ2,401.67/mo ($1,341.72 USD), compared to €1,550/mo ($1,805.05 USD) in Portugal. In USD terms, workers in Aruba earn approximately 35% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Aruba and Portugal is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Portugal 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 Portugal?
Both Aruba and Portugal mandate a similar standard work week of 40 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.