The current minimum wage in Peru is S/ 1,130 (soles) per month, a figure in force since January 1, 2025. At the time of writing (mid-2026), that’s roughly $330 (US dollars), though the conversion shifts with the exchange rate. The increase from the previous S/ 1,025 was set by supreme decree at the end of 2024, and while unions continue to push for more, no further rise has been confirmed so far in 2026.
To get a rough idea of what that number means for the average Peruvian worker — and how it reflects both the cost of living and traveling in Peru — we can compare it to other nations in the region and globally. But we also need to keep in mind Peru’s informal sector, which is a huge part of the country’s economy.
Recent History of the Minimum Wage in Peru
Peru is a developing country with plenty of natural resources and a strong economy. The minimum wage (sueldo mínimo or salario mínimo) in Peru continues to rise, albeit not enough according to some (and too much according to others, who argue it fuels Peru’s massive informal sector; more on that below).
Since the year 2000 (the last year of Alberto Fujimori’s controversial reign as President of Peru), the minimum wage has almost tripled, rising from S/ 410 to the current S/ 1,130.
The minimum wage increased twice during the administration of former President Ollanta Humala, from S/ 675 up to S/ 750 in June 2012, and from S/ 750 to S/ 850 in May 2016. It then rose to S/ 930 in 2018, to S/ 1,025 in May 2022, and to the current S/ 1,130 in January 2025. Workers’ groups have long argued the figure should be higher, and each new government faces the same demand.
Minimum Wage in Peru Compared to Other Nations
As of early 2026, Peru sits in the middle of South America’s minimum wage rankings. The figures below are approximate monthly amounts converted to US dollars at early-2026 exchange rates; the conversions fluctuate a lot, so the order can shift quite easily. Argentina is the classic example, swinging up and down the table as its currency moves:
| Country | Dollars (approx.) | Local Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | $630 | 24,572 Uruguayan pesos |
| Chile | $550 | 529,000 Chilean pesos |
| Ecuador | $480 | $482 |
| Colombia | $430 | 1,750,905 Colombian pesos |
| Peru | $330 | 1,130 soles |
| Argentina | $290 | (varies with inflation) |
| Brazil | $260 | 1,502 Brazilian reais |
Further afield, the Federal minimum wage in the United States still stands at $7.25 an hour (unchanged since 2009), which works out at about $1,250 per month — significantly more than in any South American nation, though many US states set their own, higher minimums.
In the United Kingdom, the minimum wage for adults is now over £12 an hour, which works out at roughly $2,600 per month for full-time work.
Reality Check: The Minimum Wage and Peru’s Massive Informal Economy
According to a 2016 study by Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Information (INEI), the informal sector has represented 19% of Peru’s total economy in the last decade. The report also states that informal employment in Peru is at a massive 73.2%.
These figures are backed up by a separate study by BBVA Research, whose findings were published in January 2017. The report revealed informal employment to be about 71% — meaning that more than 7.5 million Peruvians are working informally.
This obviously means that the minimum wage can be circumvented by many informal employers. At ground level, that’s easy to see. In any Peruvian city, you don’t have to look hard to find waiters, bar staff, hotel receptionists, maids and more being paid cash-in-hand at less than the national minimum wage (sometimes significantly less).
The amount of Peruvians who actually benefit from a rise in the minimum wage is therefore debatable — and potentially minimal.