Key Facts: Guinea vs Cameroon Wages
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- Cameroon Minimum Wage
- FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25), Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25)
Guinea
Cameroon
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Guinea is roughly 112 times higher than in Cameroon in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $174/mo in Guinea versus $359/mo in Cameroon, a 2.1:1 ratio.
Guinea has lower GDP per capita ($4,565 vs $5,589). Guinea's unemployment rate is 5.2% compared to Cameroon's 3.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea | Cameroon |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | FCFA254 $0.46 |
| Minimum wage /mo | FG440,000 $51.04 | FCFA43,969 $78.94 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | FCFA527,628 $947.27 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 | FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 |
| Median individual income /yr | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 | FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
- Cameroon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.2x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week for non-agricultural workers and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 120% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 140% for subsequent hours. Night work and holiday work have higher multipliers.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cameroon to Guinea would see a 11094% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Cameroon's perspective: Cameroon vs Guinea
Compare Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea or Cameroon?
In Guinea, the minimum wage is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). In Cameroon, it is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 11094% 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 Cameroon may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Guinea compared to Cameroon?
The average gross salary in Guinea is FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD), compared to FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD) in Cameroon. In USD terms, workers in Guinea earn approximately 106% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea and Cameroon is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cameroon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.
How do work hours compare between Guinea and Cameroon?
Both Guinea and Cameroon 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Guinea and Cameroon?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Cameroon has the higher GDP per capita at $5,589, which is 1.2x that of Guinea at $4,565. From Guinea's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.