Key Facts: Peru vs Burundi Wages
- Peru Minimum Wage
- S/5.89/hr ($1.60 USD)
- Burundi Minimum Wage
- FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD)
- Peru Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- S/2,200 /mo ($597.83 USD)
- Burundi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FBu60,000 /mo ($20.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo (MTPE); DS 006-2024-TR (1,130 PEN eff 2025-01-01); DS 003-2022-TR (1,025 PEN eff 2022-05-01) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère de la Fonction Publique du Burundi (2026-02-25)
Peru
Burundi
Updated 2026-05-27
Peru, 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 Peru versus $20/mo in Burundi, a 29.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Peru is 14.9x that of Burundi, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Peru has higher GDP per capita ($17,802 vs $1,195). Peru's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to Burundi's 0.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Peru | Burundi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | S/5.89 $1.60 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | FBu160 $0.05 |
| Minimum wage /mo | S/1,130 $307.07 | FBu4,160 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | S/15,820 $4,298.91 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | S/2,200 /mo $597.83 | FBu60,000 /mo $20.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | S/1,870 /mo $508.15 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | S/15,600 /yr $4,239.13 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Peru is higher.
Work Week
- Peru
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Constitution sets maximum at 48 hours/week, 8 hours/day (or 6 days at 8 hrs). Office workers commonly work 40-45 hrs. Overtime: first 2 hours at 125%, subsequent hours at 135%. Night shift (10pm-6am) receives a 35% surcharge.
- 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 Peru would see a 14% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Peru mandates 48 hours while Burundi mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Peru are $77 vs $56 in Burundi.
See this comparison from Burundi's perspective: Burundi vs Peru
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Peru or Burundi?
In Peru, the minimum wage is S/5.89/hr ($1.60 USD). In Burundi, it is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD). Peru has the higher rate by 14% 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 Peru compared to Burundi?
The average gross salary in Peru is S/2,200/mo ($597.83 USD), compared to FBu60,000/mo ($20.19 USD) in Burundi. In USD terms, workers in Peru earn approximately 2861% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Peru and Burundi is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Peru earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Burundi.
How do work hours compare between Peru and Burundi?
Peru has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burundi. Workers in Peru 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 Peru and Burundi?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Peru has the higher GDP per capita at $17,802, which is 14.9x that of Burundi at $1,195. From Peru'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.