Key Facts: Taiwan vs Philippines Wages
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Philippines Minimum Wage
- ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Philippines Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₱20,000 /mo ($323.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24), 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)
Taiwan 
Philippines
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Taiwan is roughly 48 times lower than in the Philippines 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 $324/mo in the Philippines, a 5.8:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Taiwan | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NT$190 $6.11 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ₱695 $11.25 |
| Minimum wage /mo | NT$28,590 $919.29 | ₱18,070 $292.62 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 | ₱234,910 $3,804.09 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 | ₱20,000 /mo $323.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 | ₱17,600 /mo $285.01 |
| Median individual income /yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 | ₱156,000 /yr $2,526.23 |
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).
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Taiwan earns 4690% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Philippines. Standard work weeks differ: Taiwan mandates 40 hours while the Philippines mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Taiwan are $244 vs $14,046 in the Philippines.
See this comparison from Philippines's perspective: Philippines vs Taiwan
Compare Taiwan with...
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Taiwan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Taiwan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Taiwan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Taiwan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Taiwan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Taiwan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Taiwan vs Switzerland 
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Taiwan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
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Taiwan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Taiwan or Philippines?
In Taiwan, the minimum wage is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). In the Philippines, it is ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD). Philippines has the higher rate by 4690% 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 more does the average worker earn in Taiwan compared to Philippines?
The average gross salary in Taiwan is NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD), compared to ₱20,000/mo ($323.88 USD) in the Philippines. In USD terms, workers in Taiwan earn approximately 476% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Taiwan and Philippines 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 Taiwan and Philippines?
Philippines 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.