Key Facts: Cayman Islands vs Portugal Wages
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- Portugal Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD)
- Portugal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,550 /mo ($1,805.05 USD)
- Data Sources
- Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04), Government of Portugal (Governo de Portugal); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04)
Cayman Islands 
Portugal
Updated 2026-05-04
Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
The minimum wage in the Cayman Islands is 70% higher than in Portugal when converted to USD.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cayman Islands | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $8.75 $10.50 | €5.31 $6.18 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 | €920 $1,071.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $18,200 $21,840.87 | €12,880 $14,999.42 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N/A/mo | €1,550 /mo $1,805.05 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | €1,150 /mo $1,339.23 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €14,000 /yr $16,303.71 |
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.
- Portugal
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). The first hour of overtime on a working day is paid at 125%, subsequent hours at 137.5%. Overtime on rest days and public holidays is paid at 150%. Maximum 150 hours of overtime per year (can be increased to 200 by collective agreement). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Portugal to the Cayman Islands would see a 70% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Portugal's perspective: Portugal vs Cayman Islands
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Is the minimum wage higher in Cayman Islands or Portugal?
In the Cayman Islands, the minimum wage is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). In Portugal, it is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). Cayman Islands has the higher rate by 70% 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 Portugal may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between Cayman Islands and Portugal?
Both Cayman Islands and Portugal 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.