Key Facts: Paraguay vs Burundi Wages
- Paraguay Minimum Wage
- ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD)
- Burundi Minimum Wage
- FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD)
- Paraguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₲4,500,000 /mo ($598.40 USD)
- Burundi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FBu60,000 /mo ($20.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social (MTESS); 2024 figure corrected via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-07-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère de la Fonction Publique du Burundi (2026-02-25)
Paraguay
Burundi
Updated 2026-05-04
Paraguay, a upper-middle-income economy, and Burundi, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $598/mo in Paraguay versus $20/mo in Burundi, a 29.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Paraguay is 15.5x that of Burundi, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Paraguay has higher GDP per capita ($18,524 vs $1,195). Paraguay's unemployment rate is 4.8% compared to Burundi's 0.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Paraguay | Burundi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₲14,574 $1.94 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | ₲93,277 $12.40 | FBu160 $0.05 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₲2,798,309 $372.12 | FBu4,160 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₲33,579,708 $4,465.39 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₲4,500,000 /mo $598.40 | FBu60,000 /mo $20.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₲4,050,000 /mo $538.56 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ₲26,400,000 /yr $3,510.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Paraguay is higher.
Work Week
- Paraguay
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.
- Burundi
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Burundi to Paraguay would see a 38% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Paraguay mandates 48 hours while Burundi mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Paraguay are $93 vs $56 in Burundi.
See this comparison from Burundi's perspective: Burundi vs Paraguay
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Paraguay or Burundi?
In Paraguay, the minimum wage is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD). In Burundi, it is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD). Paraguay has the higher rate by 38% 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 Burundi may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Paraguay compared to Burundi?
The average gross salary in Paraguay is ₲4,500,000/mo ($598.40 USD), compared to FBu60,000/mo ($20.19 USD) in Burundi. In USD terms, workers in Paraguay earn approximately 2864% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Paraguay and Burundi is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Paraguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Burundi.
How do work hours compare between Paraguay and Burundi?
Paraguay has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burundi. Workers in Paraguay work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Burundi 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 Paraguay and Burundi?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Paraguay has the higher GDP per capita at $18,524, which is 15.5x that of Burundi at $1,195. From Paraguay's 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.