Colombia's president has the highest salary in Latin America, at about US$16,398 a month, followed by those of Uruguay (US$14,263) and Costa Rica (US$12,349), according to a 16-country comparison published by [Polls.mx](https://polls.politico.mx/2026/09/19/cuanto-ganan-los-presidentes-de-america-latina/) in September 2026. At the bottom are Argentina, at US$2,688, and Bolivia, at US$2,096. Chile ranks sixth.
Comparing presidential pay is not simple: each country reports gross or net figures, with or without expense allowances, and the dollar result depends on the exchange rate. Here is the ranking, official local-currency amounts for countries with a primary source, and a second, fairer measure: how many minimum wages each president earns.
Ranking: how much Latin American presidents earn in dollars
| Rank | Country | President | Monthly salary (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | Abelardo de la Espriella | 16,398 |
| 2 | Uruguay | Yamandú Orsi | 14,263 |
| 3 | Costa Rica | Laura Fernández | 12,349 |
| 4 | Brazil | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | 11,042 |
| 5 | Peru | Keiko Fujimori | 10,617 |
| 6 | Chile | José Antonio Kast | 8,806 |
| 7 | Mexico | Claudia Sheinbaum | 7,858 |
| 8 | Dominican Republic | Luis Abinader | 7,664 |
| 9 | Paraguay | Santiago Peña | 6,387 |
| 10 | Honduras | Nasry Asfura | 5,186 |
| 11 | El Salvador | Nayib Bukele | 5,100 |
| 12 | Ecuador | Daniel Noboa | 5,072 |
| 13 | Panama | José Raúl Mulino | 4,000 |
| 14 | Nicaragua | Daniel Ortega | 3,200 |
| 15 | Argentina | Javier Milei | 2,688 |
| 16 | Bolivia | Rodrigo Paz | 2,096 |
Source: Polls.mx, 19 September 2026, with data from official sites and media in each country. The comparison does not say whether each figure is gross or net or which exchange rate was used. It is a regional reference, not an exact measure: Chile's figure, for example, is below what the official gross salary converts to.
Official amounts in local currency
| Country | Monthly salary in local currency | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 11,070,064 pesos | Gross | Pay-setting commission, via T13 |
| Peru | S/ 35,568 | Monthly compensation | Supreme Decree 136-2025-EF |
| Brazil | R$ 46,366.19 | Gross | Legislative Decree 172/2022 (February 2025 step) |
| Mexico | 134,290 pesos | Net | 2026 federal budget |
| Argentina | 4,066,018 pesos | Gross, frozen since December 2023 | Cabinet Office |
| Uruguay | About 1.07 million Uruguayan pesos | Nominal | Presidency, via Netoapp |
| Bolivia | Bs 12,489 after a 50% cut | Gross | Supreme Decree 5155 of 2024 and presidential announcement |
For Chile, another compilation cites 11,304,748 pesos as of May 2026, which would include later adjustments. Uruguay sets its president's pay by law (Law 16,627) and the president cannot change it; in 2025 the net amount was about 571,197 Uruguayan pesos, according to Montevideo Portal. Details are in how much Chile's president earns, how much Peru's president earns and how much Argentina's president earns.
How many minimum wages each president earns
Measuring presidential pay against each country's minimum wage corrects for exchange rates and living costs. On that measure, Uruguay moves to first place.
| Country | Multiple of the minimum wage | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 42 | Nominal salary from the Presidency |
| Colombia | About 30 | Press figure; the decree sets the rule, not the amount |
| Peru | 29 | With the S/ 1,230 minimum wage since October 2026 |
| Brazil | 29 | With the 2026 minimum wage |
| Guatemala | 27 | Press figure |
| Chile | 20 | With the 553,553-peso minimum wage |
| Mexico | 20 | On gross pay; 14 times on net pay |
| Costa Rica | 15 | Press figure |
| Paraguay | 12 | Includes expense allowances |
| Argentina | 10 | With October's 391,200-peso minimum wage |
| Bolivia | 3.8 | After the 50% cut (7.6 before) |
The table was compiled by Netoapp with data as of 12 October 2026; we checked Chile, Peru and Argentina against the minimum wages in our Latin America minimum wage ranking.
Latin American presidents who do not take their full salary
- Abelardo de la Espriella (Colombia) said he would not accept the presidential salary, according to Polls.mx.
- Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia) announced a 50% pay cut in 2026.
- Nasry Asfura (Honduras) said he would donate his salary to the Teletón charity.
- Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic) donated his 2024 salary, according to Netoapp.
- Javier Milei (Argentina) has kept his salary frozen since December 2023.
Who sets each president's pay
| Country | Who sets it |
|---|---|
| Chile | An autonomous pay-setting commission |
| Peru | The executive by supreme decree, under the Civil Service Law |
| Brazil | Congress by legislative decree |
| Mexico | The Chamber of Deputies in the federal budget; it caps all public pay |
| Uruguay | A law (Law 16,627); the president cannot change it |
| Argentina | The executive; frozen by government decision |
Methodology and limits of the Latin American presidents ranking
The dollar ranking reproduces the Polls.mx comparison (September 2026), which mixes gross and net figures and does not report the exchange rate. We complement it with official local-currency amounts where we found the rule or public record, and with Netoapp's minimum wage measure. Venezuela, Cuba and Guatemala are not in the dollar ranking for lack of a comparable figure. We will update the table when salaries or governments change. For Brazil's coming runoff, see our profile of Lula da Silva.
How to cite this data
You may use the figures and chart on this page if you credit the original source and Vivarae News. Suggested citation: "How much Latin American presidents earn in 2026: a ranking of 16 countries", Vivarae News, updated 18 October 2026, https://vivaraenews.com/en/how-much-do-latin-american-presidents-earn-2026-ranking/. We update this ranking at the same address every month.
Frequently asked questions
Which Latin American president earns the most?
Colombia's, at about US$16,398 a month according to Polls.mx. Measured in minimum wages, Uruguay's (42 times).
Which Latin American president earns the least?
Bolivia's, at US$2,096 a month after Rodrigo Paz's 50% cut.
How much does Chile's president earn?
11,070,064 pesos gross per month, about 20 minimum wages.
Why do figures vary by source?
Because gross and net amounts are mixed, with different exchange rates and dates.
