Key Facts: Taiwan vs Laos Wages
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Laos Minimum Wage
- ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Laos Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₭4,000,000 /mo ($185.79 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24), Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare — Lao PDR (2026-02-25)
Taiwan 
Laos
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Taiwan is roughly 13 times higher than in Laos in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,865/mo in Taiwan versus $186/mo in Laos, a 10.0:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Taiwan | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NT$190 $6.11 | ₭10,417 $0.48 |
| Minimum wage /mo | NT$28,590 $919.29 | ₭2,500,000 $116.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 | ₭4,000,000 /mo $185.79 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 | ₭3,600,000 /mo $167.21 |
| Median individual income /yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 | ₭18,000,000 /yr $836.04 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Taiwan is higher.
Work Week
- 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).
- Laos
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Workers in dangerous conditions are limited to 6 hours/day or 36 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 45 hours/month or 3 hours/day. Overtime compensation: 1.5x regular rate on normal days, 2.5x on weekly rest days during daytime, 3x on rest days at night. Governed by the Labour Law.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Laos to Taiwan would see a 1163% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Taiwan mandates 40 hours while Laos mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Taiwan are $244 vs $23 in Laos.
See this comparison from Laos's perspective: Laos vs Taiwan
Compare Taiwan with...
Taiwan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Taiwan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Taiwan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Taiwan vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo 
Taiwan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Taiwan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Taiwan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Taiwan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Taiwan vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
Taiwan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Taiwan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Taiwan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Taiwan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Taiwan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Taiwan vs Switzerland 
Taiwan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Taiwan vs Sweden 
Taiwan vs Singapore 
Taiwan vs Austria 
Taiwan vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr 
Taiwan vs Denmark 
Taiwan vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr 
Taiwan vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.95 /hr 
Taiwan vs Philippines ₱ 18,070 /mo Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Taiwan or Laos?
In Taiwan, the minimum wage is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). In Laos, it is ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 1163% 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 Laos may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Taiwan compared to Laos?
The average gross salary in Taiwan is NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD), compared to ₭4,000,000/mo ($185.79 USD) in Laos. In USD terms, workers in Taiwan earn approximately 904% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Taiwan and Laos 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 Laos.
How do work hours compare between Taiwan and Laos?
Laos has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in Taiwan work 40 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.