Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Eritrea Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Timor-Leste
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is 188% higher than in Eritrea when converted to USD. Average salaries are lower in Timor-Leste at $350/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Timor-Leste has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 6.0%.
From Timor-Leste's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Timor-Leste's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Timor-Leste is $383 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | N/A/yr |
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.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Eritrea to Timor-Leste would see a 188% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Eritrea?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 188% 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 Eritrea 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 14% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Timor-Leste.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Timor-Leste or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Timor-Leste can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $383 in Timor-Leste and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 216% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Timor-Leste and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 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.