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Key Facts: Mauritania vs Macau Wages

Mauritania Minimum Wage
UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
Macau Minimum Wage
MOP$35/hr ($4.34 USD)
Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
Macau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
MOP$18,000 /mo ($2,233.25 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) — Macau SAR (2026-02-25)

Mauritania flag Mauritania Macau flag Macau

Updated 2026-02-25

Mauritania flag Mauritania

Minimum Wage

UM30,000 /mo

$750 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

UM65,000 /mo

Macau flag Macau

Minimum Wage

MOP$35 /hr

$4.34 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

MOP$18,000 /mo

Min wage: +17171% Mauritania vs Macau Avg. salary: -27% Mauritania vs Macau

The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 173 times higher than in Macau in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Mauritania at $1,625/mo compared to $2,233/mo in Macau. GDP per capita (PPP) in Macau is 17.2x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Mauritania has lower GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $126,960). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Macau's 2.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mauritania and Macau
Metric Mauritania Macau
Minimum wage /hr MOP$35 $4.34
Minimum wage /day UM1,200 $30 MOP$280 $34.74
Minimum wage /mo UM30,000 $750 MOP$7,280 $903.23
Minimum wage /yr MOP$87,360 $10,838.71
Avg. gross salary /mo UM65,000 /mo $1,625 MOP$18,000 /mo $2,233.25
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo MOP$16,560 /mo $2,054.59
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr MOP$216,000 /yr $26,799.01

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

Work Week

Mauritania

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.

Macau

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Maximum working hours are 48 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Relations Law (Law No. 7/2008). Overtime is not explicitly regulated by multiplier in law but must be compensated fairly. In practice, most employers pay 1.5x for overtime. Casino workers often work in shifts. The government sector works shorter hours (typically 36 hours/week).

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Macau to Mauritania would see a 17171% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Macau mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $208 in Macau.

See this comparison from Macau's perspective: Macau vs Mauritania

Compare Mauritania with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Macau?

In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Macau, it is MOP$35/hr ($4.34 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 17171% 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 Macau may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Mauritania compared to Macau?

The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to MOP$18,000/mo ($2,233.25 USD) in Macau. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 37% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Macau is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Macau earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mauritania.

How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Macau?

Macau has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mauritania. Workers in Mauritania work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mauritania 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 Mauritania and Macau?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Macau has the higher GDP per capita at $126,960, which is 17.2x that of Mauritania at $7,369. From Mauritania'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.