Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Taiwan Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Timor-Leste 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 19 times higher than in Taiwan 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 $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 5.3:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
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.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Taiwan to Timor-Leste would see a 1782% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Timor-Leste vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Switzerland 
Timor-Leste vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Sweden 
Timor-Leste vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Singapore 
Timor-Leste vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Taiwan?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 1782% 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 Taiwan 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 Taiwan?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 433% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan 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 Taiwan?
Both Timor-Leste and Taiwan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.