Key Facts: Cayman Islands vs New Zealand Wages
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- New Zealand Minimum Wage
- NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD)
- New Zealand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NZ$5,666.67 /mo ($3,374.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04), Employment New Zealand / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2026-03-02)
Cayman Islands 
New Zealand
Updated 2026-05-04
Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
Both high-income economies, Cayman Islands and New Zealand set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cayman Islands | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $8.75 $10.50 | NZ$23.50 $13.99 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 | NZ$4,073.83 $2,425.77 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $18,200 $21,840.87 | NZ$48,880 $29,105.63 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N/A/mo | NZ$5,666.67 /mo $3,374.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | NZ$4,533.33 /mo $2,699.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | NZ$61,828 /yr $36,815.53 |
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.
- New Zealand
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
No statutory maximum working hours, but employers must ensure reasonable working hours. Most employment agreements specify 40 hours/week. Overtime rates not mandated by statute but commonly 1.5x by agreement. Time-and-a-half and a day in lieu required for work on public holidays.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in the Cayman Islands earns 33% less per hour in USD terms than one in New Zealand.
See this comparison from New Zealand's perspective: New Zealand vs Cayman Islands
Compare Cayman Islands with...
Cayman Islands vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cayman Islands vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cayman Islands vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Switzerland 
Cayman Islands vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cayman Islands vs Sweden 
Cayman Islands vs Singapore 
Cayman Islands vs Norway 
Cayman Islands vs Austria 
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Cayman Islands vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cayman Islands or New Zealand?
In the Cayman Islands, the minimum wage is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). In New Zealand, it is NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD). New Zealand has the higher rate by 33% 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 the Cayman Islands may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between Cayman Islands and New Zealand?
Both Cayman Islands and New Zealand 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.