Key Facts: Cayman Islands vs Japan Wages
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Data Sources
- Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23)
Cayman Islands
Japan
Updated 2026-05-23
Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
Both high-income economies, Cayman Islands and Japan set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cayman Islands | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $8.75 $10.50 | ¥1,121 $7.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $18,200 $21,840.87 | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N/A/mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cayman Islands is higher.
Work Week
- Cayman Islands
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours under the Labour Act.
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Japan to the Cayman Islands would see a 49% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Japan's perspective: Japan vs Cayman Islands
Compare Cayman Islands with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cayman Islands or Japan?
In the Cayman Islands, the minimum wage is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). In Japan, it is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). Cayman Islands has the higher rate by 49% 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 Japan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between Cayman Islands and Japan?
Both Cayman Islands and Japan 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.