Key Facts: Mauritius vs Guinea-Bissau Wages
- Mauritius Minimum Wage
- ₨98.71/hr ($2.13 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Mauritius Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₨43,500 /mo ($937.70 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training / National Minimum Wage Regulations (2026-02-25), ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04)
Mauritius
Guinea-Bissau
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Mauritius is roughly 16 times lower than in Guinea-Bissau in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $938/mo in Mauritius versus $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau, a 5.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Mauritius is 10.2x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Mauritius has higher GDP per capita ($31,840 vs $3,119). Mauritius' unemployment rate is 5.6% compared to Guinea-Bissau's 2.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritius | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₨98.71 $2.13 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | CFA761 $1.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₨17,110 $368.83 | CFA19,030 $34.17 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₨205,320 $4,425.95 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₨43,500 /mo $937.70 | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₨37,000 /mo $797.59 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ₨276,000 /yr $5,949.56 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Mauritius is higher.
Work Week
- Mauritius
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours, typically 5 days of 9 hours or 6 days of 7.5 hours. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate on regular days, 2x on public holidays and rest days. Governed by the Workers' Rights Act 2019 (which replaced the Employment Rights Act 2008). Overtime becomes payable after normal daily working hours.
- Guinea-Bissau
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Mauritius earns 1506% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea-Bissau. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritius mandates 45 hours while Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritius are $96 vs $1,367 in Guinea-Bissau.
See this comparison from Guinea-Bissau's perspective: Guinea-Bissau vs Mauritius
Compare Mauritius with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritius or Guinea-Bissau?
In Mauritius, the minimum wage is ₨98.71/hr ($2.13 USD). In Guinea-Bissau, it is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 1506% 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 Mauritius may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Mauritius compared to Guinea-Bissau?
The average gross salary in Mauritius is ₨43,500/mo ($937.70 USD), compared to CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD) in Guinea-Bissau. In USD terms, workers in Mauritius earn approximately 450% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritius and Guinea-Bissau is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mauritius earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea-Bissau.
How do work hours compare between Mauritius and Guinea-Bissau?
Mauritius has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. Workers in Mauritius work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea-Bissau 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 Mauritius and Guinea-Bissau?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Mauritius has the higher GDP per capita at $31,840, which is 10.2x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Mauritius' 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.