Key Facts: Paraguay vs Finland Wages
- Paraguay Minimum Wage
- ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD)
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Paraguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₲4,500,000 /mo ($598.40 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 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), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24)
Paraguay
Finland
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Finland, which has no statutory minimum wage, Paraguay mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $598/mo in Paraguay versus $4,542/mo in Finland, a 7.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Finland is 3.5x that of Paraguay, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Paraguay has lower GDP per capita ($18,524 vs $65,378). Paraguay's unemployment rate is 4.8% compared to Finland's 9.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Paraguay | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₲14,574 $1.94 | None |
| Minimum wage /day | ₲93,277 $12.40 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₲2,798,309 $372.12 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₲33,579,708 $4,465.39 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₲4,500,000 /mo $598.40 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₲4,050,000 /mo $538.56 | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₲26,400,000 /yr $3,510.64 | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 |
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.
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Paraguay mandates 48 hours while Finland mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Finland's perspective: Finland vs Paraguay
Compare Paraguay with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Paraguay or Finland?
In Paraguay, the minimum wage is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD). In Finland, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Paraguay compared to Finland?
The average gross salary in Paraguay is ₲4,500,000/mo ($598.40 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in Finland. In USD terms, workers in Paraguay earn approximately 659% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Paraguay and Finland is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Paraguay.
How do work hours compare between Paraguay and Finland?
Paraguay has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Paraguay work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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 Finland?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Finland has the higher GDP per capita at $65,378, which is 3.5x that of Paraguay at $18,524. From Paraguay'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.