Key Facts: Cameroon vs Singapore Wages
- Cameroon Minimum Wage
- FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
- Singapore Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
- Singapore Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- S$5,800 /mo ($4,539.05 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (2026-06-01)
Cameroon
Singapore
Updated 2026-06-01
Unlike Singapore, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cameroon mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $359/mo in Cameroon versus $4,539/mo in Singapore, a 12.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Singapore is 27.0x that of Cameroon, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Cameroon has lower GDP per capita ($5,589 vs $150,689). Cameroon's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Singapore's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cameroon | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA254 $0.46 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA43,969 $78.94 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA527,628 $947.27 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 | S$5,800 /mo $4,539.05 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 | S$4,930 /mo $3,858.19 |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20 | S$66,000 /yr $51,651.28 |
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.
- Singapore
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act caps at 44 hours/week (8 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 9 hrs/day for fewer days). Overtime pay at 1.5x hourly basic rate, applies to non-workmen earning up to SGD 2,600/mo and workmen earning up to SGD 4,500/mo. Maximum overtime: 72 hours/month.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Cameroon mandates 40 hours while Singapore mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Singapore's perspective: Singapore vs Cameroon
Compare Cameroon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cameroon or Singapore?
In Cameroon, the minimum wage is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). In Singapore, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cameroon compared to Singapore?
The average gross salary in Cameroon is FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD), compared to S$5,800/mo ($4,539.05 USD) in Singapore. In USD terms, workers in Cameroon earn approximately 1164% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cameroon and Singapore is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Singapore earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cameroon.
How do work hours compare between Cameroon and Singapore?
Singapore has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cameroon. Workers in Cameroon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cameroon 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 Cameroon and Singapore?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Singapore has the higher GDP per capita at $150,689, which is 27.0x that of Cameroon at $5,589. From Cameroon's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.