Key Facts: Finland vs Paraguay Wages
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Paraguay Minimum Wage
- ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Paraguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₲4,500,000 /mo ($598.40 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24), Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social (MTESS); 2024 figure corrected via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-07-01) (2026-05-04)
Finland
Paraguay
Updated 2026-05-04
Finland has no statutory minimum wage, while Paraguay sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,542/mo in Finland versus $598/mo in Paraguay, a 7.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 3.5x that of Paraguay, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Finland has higher GDP per capita ($65,378 vs $18,524). Finland's unemployment rate is 9.5% compared to Paraguay's 4.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Finland | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | ₲14,574 $1.94 |
| Minimum wage /day | None | ₲93,277 $12.40 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | ₲2,798,309 $372.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | ₲33,579,708 $4,465.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 | ₲4,500,000 /mo $598.40 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 | ₲4,050,000 /mo $538.56 |
| Median individual income /yr | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 | ₲26,400,000 /yr $3,510.64 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Finland is higher.
Work Week
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
- Paraguay
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Finland mandates 40 hours while Paraguay mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Paraguay's perspective: Paraguay vs Finland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Finland or Paraguay?
In Finland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Paraguay, it is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Finland compared to Paraguay?
The average gross salary in Finland is €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD), compared to ₲4,500,000/mo ($598.40 USD) in Paraguay. In USD terms, workers in Finland earn approximately 659% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Finland and Paraguay is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Paraguay.
How do work hours compare between Finland and Paraguay?
Paraguay has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Finland work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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 Finland and Paraguay?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 3.5x that of Paraguay at $18,524. From Finland'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.