Key Facts: Taiwan vs Saudi Arabia Wages
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; minimum wage for Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/mo unchanged since March 2021 Nitaqat reforms (2026-05-04)
Taiwan 
Saudi Arabia
Updated 2026-05-04
Both high-income economies, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are lower in Taiwan at $1,865/mo compared to $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Taiwan | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NT$190 $6.11 | ﷼23.08 $6.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | NT$28,590 $919.29 | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 | ﷼48,000 $12,800 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
| Median individual income /yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 | N/A/yr |
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).
- Saudi Arabia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Taiwan earns 1% less per hour in USD terms than one in Saudi Arabia. Standard work weeks differ: Taiwan mandates 40 hours while Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Taiwan are $244 vs $295 in Saudi Arabia.
See this comparison from Saudi Arabia's perspective: Saudi Arabia 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$ 24.95 /hr 
Taiwan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Taiwan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Taiwan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /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 
Taiwan vs Chile CLP 2,994 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Taiwan or Saudi Arabia?
In Taiwan, the minimum wage is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). In Saudi Arabia, it is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). Saudi Arabia has the higher rate by 1% 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 Taiwan compared to Saudi Arabia?
The average gross salary in Taiwan is NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD), compared to ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD) in Saudi Arabia. In USD terms, workers in Taiwan earn approximately 50% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Taiwan and Saudi Arabia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Taiwan.
How do work hours compare between Taiwan and Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia 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.