Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Israel Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Timor-Leste
Israel
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 9 times higher than in Israel 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 $4,262/mo in Israel, a 12.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Israel is 12.9x that of Timor-Leste, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Timor-Leste has lower GDP per capita ($4,423 vs $57,236). Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Israel's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₪35.40 $12.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 |
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.
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Israel to Timor-Leste would see a 815% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $528 in Israel.
See this comparison from Israel's perspective: Israel vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Israel?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 815% 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 Israel 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 Israel?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 1118% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel 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 Israel?
Israel has a longer standard work week at 42 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 Israel?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Israel has the higher GDP per capita at $57,236, which is 12.9x 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.