Key Facts: Brunei vs Austria Wages
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Austria Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Austria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,800 /mo ($4,425.29 USD)
- Data Sources
- Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25), Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft) (2026-02-24)
Brunei
Austria
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Austria, which has no statutory minimum wage, Brunei mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,969/mo in Brunei versus $4,425/mo in Austria, a 2.2:1 ratio.
Brunei has higher GDP per capita ($89,879 vs $73,911). Brunei's unemployment rate is 5.3% compared to Austria's 5.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Brunei | Austria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | B$2.62 $2.06 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | B$500 $393.70 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | B$6,000 $4,724.41 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 | €3,800 /mo $4,425.29 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 | €2,500 /mo $2,911.38 |
| Median individual income /yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 | €33,500 /yr $39,012.46 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Brunei is higher.
Work Week
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
- Austria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Arbeitszeitgesetz). Daily maximum is 8 hours (normal) or 10 hours (with overtime). Since 2018, daily working time can be extended to 12 hours and weekly to 60 hours in exceptional cases with compensatory rest. Overtime is compensated at 150% or with time off in lieu (1:1.5). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Brunei mandates 44 hours while Austria mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Austria's perspective: Austria vs Brunei
Compare Brunei with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Brunei or Austria?
In Brunei, the minimum wage is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). In Austria, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Brunei compared to Austria?
The average gross salary in Brunei is B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD), compared to €3,800/mo ($4,425.29 USD) in Austria. In USD terms, workers in Brunei earn approximately 125% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brunei and Austria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Austria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Brunei.
How do work hours compare between Brunei and Austria?
Brunei has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Austria. Workers in Brunei work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Austria 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 Brunei and Austria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brunei has the higher GDP per capita at $89,879, which is 1.2x that of Austria at $73,911. From Brunei'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.