Key Facts: Pakistan vs Taiwan Wages
- Pakistan Minimum Wage
- ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Pakistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₨39,042 /mo ($140.19 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development; FY2025-26 federal budget confirmed minimum wage UNCHANGED at PKR 37,000/month (no increase despite high inflation; Federal Government Grade 1-16 employees received separate 10% pay rise that does not affect minimum wage). Verified via Brecorder (brecorder.com/news/minimum-wage-to-remain-unchanged-at-rs37000-in-fy26). (2026-05-04), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Pakistan 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Pakistan is roughly 11 times lower than in Taiwan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $140/mo in Pakistan versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 13.3:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Pakistan | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₨160 $0.57 | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₨37,000 $132.85 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₨444,000 $1,594.25 | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₨39,042 /mo $140.19 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₨35,138 /mo $126.17 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₨403,200 /yr $1,447.76 | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Pakistan is higher.
Work Week
- Pakistan
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Factories Act 1934 sets standard at 48 hours/week (9 hrs/day). Maximum 56 hours including overtime. Overtime paid at double the ordinary rate. Shops and Establishments ordinances vary by province.
- 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)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Pakistan earns 963% less per hour in USD terms than one in Taiwan. Standard work weeks differ: Pakistan mandates 48 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Pakistan are $28 vs $244 in Taiwan.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Pakistan
Compare Pakistan with...
Pakistan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Pakistan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Pakistan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Pakistan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Pakistan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Pakistan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Pakistan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Pakistan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Pakistan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Pakistan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Pakistan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Pakistan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Pakistan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Pakistan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Pakistan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Pakistan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Pakistan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Pakistan vs Switzerland 
Pakistan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Pakistan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Pakistan vs Sweden 
Pakistan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Pakistan vs Singapore 
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Is the minimum wage higher in Pakistan or Taiwan?
In Pakistan, the minimum wage is ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 963% 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 Pakistan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Pakistan compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in Pakistan is ₨39,042/mo ($140.19 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Pakistan earn approximately 1230% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Pakistan 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 Pakistan.
How do work hours compare between Pakistan and Taiwan?
Pakistan has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in Pakistan work 48 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.