Skip to main content

Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Iran Wages

Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
$115/mo
Iran Minimum Wage
﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$350 /mo ($350 USD)
Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04)

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste Iran flag Iran

Updated 2026-05-04

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste

Minimum Wage

$115 /mo

Avg. Gross Salary

$350 /mo

Iran flag Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Min wage: +11189% Timor-Leste vs Iran Avg. salary: -40% Timor-Leste vs Iran

The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 113 times higher than in Iran in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Timor-Leste at $350/mo compared to $588/mo in Iran. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iran is 4.5x that of Timor-Leste, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Timor-Leste has lower GDP per capita ($4,423 vs $19,874). Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Iran's 8.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Timor-Leste and Iran
Metric Timor-Leste Iran
Minimum wage /hr ﷼692,731 $1.02
Minimum wage /day ﷼5,541,850 $8.15
Minimum wage /mo $115 ﷼166,255,500 $244.49
Minimum wage /yr $1,380 ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92
Avg. gross salary /mo $350 /mo ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24
Avg. net salary /mo $330 /mo N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr $1,500 /yr ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65

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.

Iran

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Iran to Timor-Leste would see a 11189% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Iran mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $45 in Iran.

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

Compare Timor-Leste with...

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 11189% 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 Iran 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 Iran?

The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 68% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran 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 Iran?

Iran 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.

What is the cost of living difference between Timor-Leste and Iran?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iran has the higher GDP per capita at $19,874, which is 4.5x 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.