Key Facts: Cayman Islands vs Qatar Wages
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- Qatar Minimum Wage
- QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD)
- Qatar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- QAR11,724 /mo ($3,220.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04), Ministry of Labour (MOL) — State of Qatar (2026-02-24)
Cayman Islands
Qatar
Updated 2026-05-04
Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
The minimum wage in the Cayman Islands is roughly 7 times higher than in Qatar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a high-income economy.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cayman Islands | Qatar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $8.75 $10.50 | QAR5.21 $1.43 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 | QAR1,000 $274.73 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $18,200 $21,840.87 | QAR12,000 $3,296.70 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N/A/mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 |
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.
- Qatar
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Qatar to the Cayman Islands would see a 634% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: the Cayman Islands mandates 40 hours while Qatar mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in the Cayman Islands are $420 vs $69 in Qatar.
See this comparison from Qatar's perspective: Qatar vs Cayman Islands
Compare Cayman Islands with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cayman Islands or Qatar?
In the Cayman Islands, the minimum wage is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). In Qatar, it is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). Cayman Islands has the higher rate by 634% 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 Qatar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between Cayman Islands and Qatar?
Qatar has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Cayman Islands. Workers in the Cayman Islands work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Cayman Islands 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.