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Key Facts: Sweden vs Argentina Wages

Sweden Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Argentina Minimum Wage
ARS1,762/hr ($1.64 USD)
Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
Argentina Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ARS850,000 /mo ($792.91 USD)
Data Sources
Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), Consejo Nacional del Empleo, la Productividad y el Salario Mínimo, Vital y Móvil — verified directly via argentina.gob.ar/trabajo/consejodelsalario (primary source) (2026-05-04)

Sweden flag Sweden Argentina flag Argentina

Updated 2026-05-04

Sweden flag Sweden

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr40,000 /mo

Argentina flag Argentina

Minimum Wage

ARS1,762 /hr

$1.64 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ARS850,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +445% Sweden vs Argentina

Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while Argentina sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $793/mo in Argentina, a 5.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sweden is 2.4x that of Argentina, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Sweden has higher GDP per capita ($71,845 vs $30,431). Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to Argentina's 7.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Sweden and Argentina
Metric Sweden Argentina
Minimum wage /hr None ARS1,762 $1.64
Minimum wage /mo None ARS352,400 $328.73
Minimum wage /yr None ARS4,581,200 $4,273.51
Avg. gross salary /mo kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 ARS850,000 /mo $792.91
Avg. net salary /mo kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 ARS700,000 /mo $652.99
Median individual income /yr kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 ARS5,400,000 /yr $5,037.31

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sweden is higher.

Work Week

Sweden

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.

Argentina

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Legal maximum of 48 hours/week (8 hours/day for daytime work). Overtime on regular days is 50% premium; Saturdays after 1pm, Sundays and holidays: 100% premium.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Sweden mandates 40 hours while Argentina mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from Argentina's perspective: Argentina vs Sweden

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or Argentina?

In Sweden, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Argentina, it is ARS1,762/hr ($1.64 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in Sweden compared to Argentina?

The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to ARS850,000/mo ($792.91 USD) in Argentina. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 445% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and Argentina is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Argentina.

How do work hours compare between Sweden and Argentina?

Argentina has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Sweden work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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 Sweden and Argentina?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sweden has the higher GDP per capita at $71,845, which is 2.4x that of Argentina at $30,431. From Sweden'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.