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Key Facts: Ecuador vs Austria Wages

Ecuador Minimum Wage
$1.96/hr
Austria Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Ecuador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$650 /mo ($650 USD)
Austria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€3,800 /mo ($4,425.29 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio del Trabajo — Ecuador; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-01-01) (2026-05-04), Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft) (2026-02-24)

Ecuador flag Ecuador Austria flag Austria

Updated 2026-05-04

Ecuador flag Ecuador

Minimum Wage

$1.96 /hr

Avg. Gross Salary

$650 /mo

Austria flag Austria

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,800 /mo

Avg. salary: -85% Ecuador vs Austria

Unlike Austria, which has no statutory minimum wage, Ecuador mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $650/mo in Ecuador versus $4,425/mo in Austria, a 6.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Austria is 4.7x that of Ecuador, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Ecuador has lower GDP per capita ($15,840 vs $73,911). Ecuador's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to Austria's 5.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Ecuador and Austria
Metric Ecuador Austria
Minimum wage /hr $1.96 None
Minimum wage /mo $470 None
Minimum wage /yr $6,580 None
Avg. gross salary /mo $650 /mo €3,800 /mo $4,425.29
Avg. net salary /mo $585 /mo €2,500 /mo $2,911.38
Median individual income /yr $4,800 /yr €33,500 /yr $39,012.46

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ecuador is higher.

Work Week

Ecuador

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Código del Trabajo sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime (horas suplementarias) is paid at 50% premium for day hours and 100% premium for night hours (7pm-6am) and weekends/holidays. Maximum 4 hours of overtime per day, 12 hours per week. Night work (7pm-6am) has a 25% surcharge even within regular hours.

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.

See this comparison from Austria's perspective: Austria vs Ecuador

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Ecuador or Austria?

In Ecuador, the minimum wage is $1.96/hr. In Austria, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Ecuador compared to Austria?

The average gross salary in Ecuador is $650/mo, compared to €3,800/mo ($4,425.29 USD) in Austria. In USD terms, workers in Ecuador earn approximately 581% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ecuador 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 Ecuador.

How do work hours compare between Ecuador and Austria?

Both Ecuador and Austria 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.

What is the cost of living difference between Ecuador and Austria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Austria has the higher GDP per capita at $73,911, which is 4.7x that of Ecuador at $15,840. From Ecuador's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.