Skip to main content

Key Facts: Malaysia vs Taiwan Wages

Malaysia Minimum Wage
RM8.72/hr ($2.13 USD)
Taiwan Minimum Wage
NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
Malaysia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
RM4,000 /mo ($977.04 USD)
Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR); Minimum Wages Order 2024 P.U.(A) 376 eff 2025-02-01; primary source gajiminimum.mohr.gov.my (2026-05-27), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)

Malaysia flag Malaysia Taiwan flag Taiwan

Updated 2026-05-27

Malaysia flag Malaysia

Minimum Wage

RM8.72 /hr

$2.13 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RM4,000 /mo

Taiwan flag Taiwan

Minimum Wage

NT$190 /hr

$6.11 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

NT$58,000 /mo

Min wage: -65% Malaysia vs Taiwan Avg. salary: -48% Malaysia vs Taiwan

The minimum wage in Malaysia is 65% lower than in Taiwan in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are lower in Malaysia at $977/mo compared to $1,865/mo in Taiwan.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Malaysia and Taiwan
Metric Malaysia Taiwan
Minimum wage /hr RM8.72 $2.13 NT$190 $6.11
Minimum wage /mo RM1,700 $415.24 NT$28,590 $919.29
Minimum wage /yr RM20,400 $4,982.90 NT$343,080 $11,031.51
Avg. gross salary /mo RM4,000 /mo $977.04 NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95
Avg. net salary /mo RM3,520 /mo $859.79 NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79
Median individual income /yr RM31,200 /yr $7,620.91 NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27

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

Work Week

Malaysia

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).

Taiwan

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.34x pay

Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Malaysia Taiwan Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Malaysia earns 187% less per hour in USD terms than one in Taiwan. Standard work weeks differ: Malaysia mandates 45 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malaysia are $96 vs $244 in Taiwan.

See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Malaysia

Compare Malaysia with...

United States flag Malaysia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr China flag Malaysia vs China ¥ 25 /hr Germany flag Malaysia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr United Kingdom flag Malaysia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr India flag Malaysia vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo Japan flag Malaysia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr France flag Malaysia vs France € 12.02 /hr South Korea flag Malaysia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr Canada flag Malaysia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr Australia flag Malaysia vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr Brazil flag Malaysia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr Russia flag Malaysia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr Indonesia flag Malaysia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr Netherlands flag Malaysia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr Saudi Arabia flag Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr Turkey flag Malaysia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr Switzerland flag Malaysia vs Switzerland Poland flag Malaysia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr Thailand flag Malaysia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo Singapore flag Malaysia vs Singapore Norway flag Malaysia vs Norway Denmark flag Malaysia vs Denmark New Zealand flag Malaysia vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.95 /hr Philippines flag Malaysia vs Philippines ₱ 18,070 /mo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Malaysia or Taiwan?

In Malaysia, the minimum wage is RM8.72/hr ($2.13 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 187% 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 Malaysia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Malaysia compared to Taiwan?

The average gross salary in Malaysia is RM4,000/mo ($977.04 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Malaysia earn approximately 91% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malaysia and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Malaysia.

How do work hours compare between Malaysia and Taiwan?

Malaysia has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in Malaysia work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Taiwan 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.