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Key Facts: Uruguay vs Philippines Wages

Uruguay Minimum Wage
$U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD)
Philippines Minimum Wage
₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD)
Uruguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$U55,000 /mo ($1,273.15 USD)
Philippines Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₱20,000 /mo ($323.88 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) (2026-02-24), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) / National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC); 2025 figures verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 18 July 2025) (2026-05-04)

Uruguay flag Uruguay Philippines flag Philippines

Updated 2026-05-04

Uruguay flag Uruguay

Minimum Wage

$U92.80 /hr

$2.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$U55,000 /mo

Philippines flag Philippines

Minimum Wage

₱18,070 /mo

$292.62 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₱20,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Uruguay vs Philippines Avg. salary: +293% Uruguay vs Philippines

The minimum wage in Uruguay is roughly 136 times lower than in the Philippines in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,273/mo in Uruguay versus $324/mo in the Philippines, a 3.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Uruguay is 3.1x that of Philippines, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Uruguay has higher GDP per capita ($36,418 vs $11,794). Uruguay's unemployment rate is 7.5% compared to the Philippines' 2.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Uruguay and Philippines
Metric Uruguay Philippines
Minimum wage /hr $U92.80 $2.15
Minimum wage /day ₱695 $11.25
Minimum wage /mo $U22,268 $515.46 ₱18,070 $292.62
Minimum wage /yr $U290,484 $6,724.17 ₱234,910 $3,804.09
Avg. gross salary /mo $U55,000 /mo $1,273.15 ₱20,000 /mo $323.88
Avg. net salary /mo $U42,350 /mo $980.32 ₱17,600 /mo $285.01
Median individual income /yr $U468,000 /yr $10,833.33 ₱156,000 /yr $2,526.23

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Uruguay is higher.

Work Week

Uruguay

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Standard workweek is 44 hours for commerce and 48 hours for industry (Law 5,350 of 1915 and Law 7,318 of 1920). In practice, most workers work 40-44 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate (100% premium). Night work (after 10pm) also attracts premium pay.

Philippines

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labor Code sets normal working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (6-day week). Overtime: 25% premium on regular days, 30% on rest days/holidays. Night shift differential (10pm-6am): 10% additional. Special non-working holidays: 30% premium. Regular holidays: 100% premium.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Uruguay earns 13522% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Philippines. Standard work weeks differ: Uruguay mandates 44 hours while the Philippines mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Uruguay are $95 vs $14,046 in the Philippines.

See this comparison from Philippines's perspective: Philippines vs Uruguay

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Uruguay or Philippines?

In Uruguay, the minimum wage is $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD). In the Philippines, it is ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD). Philippines has the higher rate by 13522% 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 Uruguay may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Uruguay compared to Philippines?

The average gross salary in Uruguay is $U55,000/mo ($1,273.15 USD), compared to ₱20,000/mo ($323.88 USD) in the Philippines. In USD terms, workers in Uruguay earn approximately 293% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Uruguay and Philippines is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Uruguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in the Philippines.

How do work hours compare between Uruguay and Philippines?

Philippines has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Uruguay. Workers in Uruguay work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Uruguay 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 Uruguay and Philippines?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Uruguay has the higher GDP per capita at $36,418, which is 3.1x that of Philippines at $11,794. From Uruguay's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.