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Key Facts: Ireland vs Singapore Wages

Ireland Minimum Wage
€14.15/hr ($16.11 USD)
Singapore Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Ireland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€4,350 /mo ($4,951.62 USD)
Singapore Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
S$5,800 /mo ($4,472.55 USD)
Data Sources
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (2026-03-02), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (2026-06-01)

Ireland flag Ireland Singapore flag Singapore

Updated 2026-06-01

Ireland flag Ireland

Minimum Wage

€14.15 /hr

$16.11 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€4,350 /mo

Singapore flag Singapore

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

S$5,800 /mo

Avg. salary: +11% Ireland vs Singapore

Unlike Singapore, which has no statutory minimum wage, Ireland mandates a wage floor of $16/hr. Average salaries are higher in Ireland at $4,952/mo compared to $4,473/mo in Singapore.

Ireland has lower GDP per capita ($133,437 vs $150,689). Ireland's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to Singapore's 2.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Ireland and Singapore
Metric Ireland Singapore
Minimum wage /hr €14.15 $16.11 None
Minimum wage /mo €2,452.62 $2,791.83 None
Minimum wage /yr €29,432 $33,502.56 None
Avg. gross salary /mo €4,350 /mo $4,951.62 S$5,800 /mo $4,472.55
Avg. net salary /mo €3,100 /mo $3,528.74 S$4,930 /mo $3,801.67
Median individual income /yr €40,000 /yr $45,532.16 S$66,000 /yr $50,894.51

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

Work Week

Ireland

39 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

There is no single statutory standard workweek; 39 hours is the most common. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 limits average weekly hours to 48 over a 4-month reference period. There is no statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is determined by employment contract or collective agreement.

Singapore

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act caps at 44 hours/week (8 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 9 hrs/day for fewer days). Overtime pay at 1.5x hourly basic rate, applies to non-workmen earning up to SGD 2,600/mo and workmen earning up to SGD 4,500/mo. Maximum overtime: 72 hours/month.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Ireland mandates 39 hours while Singapore mandates 44 hours.

See this comparison from Singapore's perspective: Singapore vs Ireland

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Ireland or Singapore?

In Ireland, the minimum wage is €14.15/hr ($16.11 USD). In Singapore, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Ireland compared to Singapore?

The average gross salary in Ireland is €4,350/mo ($4,951.62 USD), compared to S$5,800/mo ($4,472.55 USD) in Singapore. In USD terms, workers in Ireland earn approximately 11% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ireland and Singapore is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ireland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Singapore.

How do work hours compare between Ireland and Singapore?

Singapore has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 39 hours in Ireland. Workers in Ireland work 39 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ireland 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 Ireland and Singapore?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Singapore has the higher GDP per capita at $150,689, which is 1.1x that of Ireland at $133,437. From Ireland'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.