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Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Peru Wages

Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
$115/mo
Peru Minimum Wage
S/5.89/hr ($1.60 USD)
Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$350 /mo ($350 USD)
Peru Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
S/2,200 /mo ($597.83 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Promoción del Empleo (MTPE); DS 006-2024-TR (1,130 PEN eff 2025-01-01); DS 003-2022-TR (1,025 PEN eff 2022-05-01) (2026-05-27)

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste Peru flag Peru

Updated 2026-05-27

Timor-Leste flag Timor-Leste

Minimum Wage

$115 /mo

Avg. Gross Salary

$350 /mo

Peru flag Peru

Minimum Wage

S/5.89 /hr

$1.60 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

S/2,200 /mo

Min wage: +7085% Timor-Leste vs Peru Avg. salary: -41% Timor-Leste vs Peru

The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 72 times higher than in Peru in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Timor-Leste at $350/mo compared to $598/mo in Peru. GDP per capita (PPP) in Peru is 4.0x that of Timor-Leste, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Timor-Leste has lower GDP per capita ($4,423 vs $17,802). Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Peru's 5.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Timor-Leste and Peru
Metric Timor-Leste Peru
Minimum wage /hr S/5.89 $1.60
Minimum wage /mo $115 S/1,130 $307.07
Minimum wage /yr $1,380 S/15,820 $4,298.91
Avg. gross salary /mo $350 /mo S/2,200 /mo $597.83
Avg. net salary /mo $330 /mo S/1,870 /mo $508.15
Median individual income /yr $1,500 /yr S/15,600 /yr $4,239.13

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.

Peru

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Constitution sets maximum at 48 hours/week, 8 hours/day (or 6 days at 8 hrs). Office workers commonly work 40-45 hrs. Overtime: first 2 hours at 125%, subsequent hours at 135%. Night shift (10pm-6am) receives a 35% surcharge.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Peru to Timor-Leste would see a 7085% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Peru mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $77 in Peru.

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

Compare Timor-Leste with...

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Peru, it is S/5.89/hr ($1.60 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 7085% 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 Peru 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 Peru?

The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to S/2,200/mo ($597.83 USD) in Peru. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 71% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Peru is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Peru 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 Peru?

Peru 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 Peru?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Peru has the higher GDP per capita at $17,802, which is 4.0x 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.