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Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Bahrain Wages

Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
$115/mo
Bahrain Minimum Wage
BD1.73/hr ($4.60 USD)
Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$350 /mo ($350 USD)
Bahrain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
BD850 /mo ($2,260.64 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Kingdom of Bahrain (2026-02-25)

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste Bahrain flag Bahrain

Updated 2026-02-25

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste

Minimum Wage

$115 /mo

Avg. Gross Salary

$350 /mo

Bahrain flag Bahrain

Minimum Wage

BD1.73 /hr

$4.60 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

BD850 /mo

Min wage: +2399% Timor-Leste vs Bahrain Avg. salary: -85% Timor-Leste vs Bahrain

The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 25 times higher than in Bahrain in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $350/mo in Timor-Leste versus $2,261/mo in Bahrain, a 6.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bahrain is 15.1x that of Timor-Leste, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Timor-Leste has lower GDP per capita ($4,423 vs $66,941). Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Bahrain's 1.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Timor-Leste and Bahrain
Metric Timor-Leste Bahrain
Minimum wage /hr BD1.73 $4.60
Minimum wage /mo $115 BD300 $797.87
Minimum wage /yr $1,380 BD3,600 $9,574.47
Avg. gross salary /mo $350 /mo BD850 /mo $2,260.64
Avg. net salary /mo $330 /mo BD840 /mo $2,234.04
Median individual income /yr $1,500 /yr BD4,800 /yr $12,765.96

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Timor-Leste is higher.

Work Week

Timor-Leste

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 52 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Timor-Leste Labour Code sets a standard workweek of 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays and Sundays is at 2x.

Bahrain

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 48 per week (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day (36 hours/week). Overtime paid at 125% of normal rate; Friday work at 150%.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Bahrain to Timor-Leste would see a 2399% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Bahrain mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $221 in Bahrain.

See this comparison from Bahrain's perspective: Bahrain vs Timor-Leste

Compare Timor-Leste with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Bahrain?

In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Bahrain, it is BD1.73/hr ($4.60 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 2399% 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 Bahrain may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Timor-Leste compared to Bahrain?

The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to BD850/mo ($2,260.64 USD) in Bahrain. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 546% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Bahrain is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bahrain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Timor-Leste.

How do work hours compare between Timor-Leste and Bahrain?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bahrain has the higher GDP per capita at $66,941, which is 15.1x that of Timor-Leste at $4,423. From Timor-Leste's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.