Key Facts: Philippines vs Taiwan Wages
- Philippines Minimum Wage
- ₱18,070/mo ($293.13 USD)
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Philippines Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₱20,000 /mo ($324.44 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) / National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC); 2025 figures verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 18 July 2025) (2026-05-04), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Philippines 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in the Philippines is roughly 48 times higher than in Taiwan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $324/mo in the Philippines versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 5.7:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Philippines | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /day | ₱695 $11.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₱18,070 $293.13 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₱234,910 $3,810.69 | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₱20,000 /mo $324.44 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₱17,600 /mo $285.51 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₱156,000 /yr $2,530.62 | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Philippines is higher.
Work Week
- Philippines
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labor Code sets normal working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (6-day week). Overtime: 25% premium on regular days, 30% on rest days/holidays. Night shift differential (10pm-6am): 10% additional. Special non-working holidays: 30% premium. Regular holidays: 100% premium.
- 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).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Taiwan to the Philippines would see a 4698% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: the Philippines mandates 48 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in the Philippines are $14,070 vs $244 in Taiwan.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Philippines
Compare Philippines with...
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Is the minimum wage higher in Philippines or Taiwan?
In the Philippines, the minimum wage is ₱18,070/mo ($293.13 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Philippines has the higher rate by 4698% 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 Taiwan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Philippines compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in the Philippines is ₱20,000/mo ($324.44 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in the Philippines earn approximately 475% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Philippines 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 the Philippines.
How do work hours compare between Philippines and Taiwan?
Philippines has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in the Philippines 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.