Key Facts: Curaçao vs Israel Wages
- Curaçao Minimum Wage
- ƒ11.72/hr ($6.55 USD)
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Curaçao Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ƒ3,218 /mo ($1,797.77 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Data Sources
- WageIndicator Foundation / SER Curacao (2026-05-04), Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Curaçao
Israel
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Curaçao is 48% lower than in Israel in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,798/mo in Curaçao versus $4,262/mo in Israel, a 2.4:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Curaçao | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ƒ11.72 $6.55 | ₪35.40 $12.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ƒ2,031.47 $1,134.90 | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ƒ24,377.60 $13,618.77 | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ƒ3,218 /mo $1,797.77 | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 |
| Median individual income /yr | ƒ27,456 /yr $15,338.55 | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Curaçao is higher.
Work Week
- Curaçao
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Governed by the Ministry of Social Development, Labour, and Welfare, with advisory input from the Sociaal Economische Raad (SER) Curacao.
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Curaçao earns 92% less per hour in USD terms than one in Israel. Standard work weeks differ: Curaçao mandates 40 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Curaçao are $262 vs $528 in Israel.
See this comparison from Israel's perspective: Israel vs Curaçao
Compare Curaçao with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Curaçao or Israel?
In Curaçao, the minimum wage is ƒ11.72/hr ($6.55 USD). In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Israel has the higher rate by 92% 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 Curaçao may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Curaçao compared to Israel?
The average gross salary in Curaçao is ƒ3,218/mo ($1,797.77 USD), compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Curaçao earn approximately 137% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Curaçao and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Curaçao.
How do work hours compare between Curaçao and Israel?
Israel has a longer standard work week at 42 hours, compared to 40 hours in Curaçao. Workers in Curaçao work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Curaçao 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.