Key Facts: Guatemala vs Eritrea Wages
- Guatemala Minimum Wage
- Q15.34/hr ($2 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Guatemala Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Q5,800 /mo ($756.19 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social — Guatemala (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Guatemala 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Guatemala is roughly 20 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Guatemala at $756/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Guatemala has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.6% compared to 6.0%.
Guatemala's unemployment rate is 2.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guatemala | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Q15.34 $2 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Q3,681 $479.92 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Q44,172 $5,759.06 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Q5,800 /mo $756.19 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Q5,200 /mo $677.97 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | Q28,000 /yr $3,650.59 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guatemala is higher.
Work Week
- Guatemala
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Guatemala earns 1900% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Guatemala mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guatemala are $96 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Guatemala
Compare Guatemala with...
Guatemala vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Guatemala vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Guatemala vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Guatemala vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Guatemala vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Guatemala vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Guatemala vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Guatemala vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Guatemala vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Guatemala vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Guatemala vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Guatemala vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Guatemala vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Guatemala vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Guatemala vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Guatemala vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Guatemala vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Guatemala vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Guatemala vs Switzerland 
Guatemala vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Guatemala vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Guatemala vs Sweden 
Guatemala vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Guatemala vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guatemala or Eritrea?
In Guatemala, the minimum wage is Q15.34/hr ($2 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1900% 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 Guatemala may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Guatemala compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Guatemala is Q5,800/mo ($756.19 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Guatemala earn approximately 89% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guatemala and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guatemala earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Guatemala and Eritrea?
Guatemala has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Guatemala work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.