Key Facts: Cameroon vs Guinea Wages
- Cameroon Minimum Wage
- FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25)
Cameroon
Guinea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Cameroon is roughly 112 times lower than in Guinea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $359/mo in Cameroon versus $174/mo in Guinea, a 2.1:1 ratio.
Cameroon has higher GDP per capita ($5,589 vs $4,565). Cameroon's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Guinea's 5.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cameroon | Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA254 $0.46 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA43,969 $78.94 | FG440,000 $51.04 |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA527,628 $947.27 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20 | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cameroon is higher.
Work Week
- Cameroon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.2x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week for non-agricultural workers and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 120% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 140% for subsequent hours. Night work and holiday work have higher multipliers.
- Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cameroon earns 11094% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea.
See this comparison from Guinea's perspective: Guinea vs Cameroon
Compare Cameroon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cameroon or Guinea?
In Cameroon, the minimum wage is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). In Guinea, it is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 11094% 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 Cameroon may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Cameroon compared to Guinea?
The average gross salary in Cameroon is FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD), compared to FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD) in Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Cameroon earn approximately 106% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cameroon and Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cameroon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.
How do work hours compare between Cameroon and Guinea?
Both Cameroon and Guinea 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Cameroon and Guinea?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Cameroon has the higher GDP per capita at $5,589, which is 1.2x that of Guinea at $4,565. From Cameroon'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.