Key Facts: China vs Cayman Islands Wages
- China Minimum Wage
- ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD)
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- China Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /mo ($1,528.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026) (2026-05-04), Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04)
China
Cayman Islands
Updated 2026-05-04
Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
The minimum wage in China is 65% lower than in the Cayman Islands in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | China | Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥25 $3.70 | $8.75 $10.50 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥2,740 $405.02 | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥32,880 $4,860.24 | $18,200 $21,840.87 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥10,343 /mo $1,528.88 | N/A/mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥8,274 /mo $1,223.04 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥34,707 /yr $5,130.30 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means China is higher.
Work Week
- China
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
- Cayman Islands
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours under the Labour Act.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in China earns 184% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Cayman Islands.
See this comparison from Cayman Islands's perspective: Cayman Islands vs China
Compare China with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in China or Cayman Islands?
In China, the minimum wage is ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD). In the Cayman Islands, it is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). Cayman Islands has the higher rate by 184% 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 China may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between China and Cayman Islands?
Both China and Cayman Islands 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.