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Key Facts: Taiwan vs Malaysia Wages

Taiwan Minimum Wage
NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
Malaysia Minimum Wage
RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD)
Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
Malaysia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
RM4,000 /mo ($1,008.83 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24), Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR); Minimum Wages Order 2024 P.U.(A) 376 eff 2025-02-01; primary source gajiminimum.mohr.gov.my (2026-05-27)

Taiwan flag Taiwan Malaysia flag Malaysia

Updated 2026-05-27

Taiwan flag Taiwan

Minimum Wage

NT$190 /hr

$6.11 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

NT$58,000 /mo

Malaysia flag Malaysia

Minimum Wage

RM8.72 /hr

$2.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RM4,000 /mo

Min wage: +178% Taiwan vs Malaysia Avg. salary: +85% Taiwan vs Malaysia

The minimum wage in Taiwan is 178% higher than in Malaysia when converted to USD. Average salaries are higher in Taiwan at $1,865/mo compared to $1,009/mo in Malaysia.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Taiwan and Malaysia
Metric Taiwan Malaysia
Minimum wage /hr NT$190 $6.11 RM8.72 $2.20
Minimum wage /mo NT$28,590 $919.29 RM1,700 $428.75
Minimum wage /yr NT$343,080 $11,031.51 RM20,400 $5,145.02
Avg. gross salary /mo NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83
Avg. net salary /mo NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 RM3,520 /mo $887.77
Median individual income /yr NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85

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).

Malaysia

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Taiwan Malaysia Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Malaysia to Taiwan would see a 178% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Taiwan mandates 40 hours while Malaysia mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Taiwan are $244 vs $99 in Malaysia.

See this comparison from Malaysia's perspective: Malaysia vs Taiwan

Compare Taiwan with...

United States flag Taiwan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr China flag Taiwan vs China ¥ 25 /hr United Kingdom flag Taiwan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr India flag Taiwan vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo Japan flag Taiwan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr France flag Taiwan vs France € 12.02 /hr South Korea flag Taiwan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr Canada flag Taiwan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr Australia flag Taiwan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr Brazil flag Taiwan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr Indonesia flag Taiwan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr Netherlands flag Taiwan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr Saudi Arabia flag Taiwan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr Turkey flag Taiwan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr Switzerland flag Taiwan vs Switzerland Poland flag Taiwan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr Sweden flag Taiwan vs Sweden Singapore flag Taiwan vs Singapore Austria flag Taiwan vs Austria Denmark flag Taiwan vs Denmark Israel flag Taiwan vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr New Zealand flag Taiwan vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.95 /hr Philippines flag Taiwan vs Philippines ₱ 18,070 /mo Chile flag Taiwan vs Chile CLP 2,994 /hr

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Taiwan or Malaysia?

In Taiwan, the minimum wage is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). In Malaysia, it is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD). Taiwan has the higher rate by 178% 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 Malaysia 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 Malaysia?

The average gross salary in Taiwan is NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD), compared to RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD) in Malaysia. In USD terms, workers in Taiwan earn approximately 85% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Taiwan and Malaysia 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 Malaysia.

How do work hours compare between Taiwan and Malaysia?

Malaysia has a longer standard work week at 45 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.