Key Facts: New Zealand vs Cayman Islands Wages
- New Zealand Minimum Wage
- NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD)
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- New Zealand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NZ$5,666.67 /mo ($3,374.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Employment New Zealand / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2026-03-02), Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04)
New Zealand 
Cayman Islands
Updated 2026-05-04
Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
Both high-income economies, New Zealand and Cayman Islands set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New Zealand | Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NZ$23.50 $13.99 | $8.75 $10.50 |
| Minimum wage /mo | NZ$4,073.83 $2,425.77 | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NZ$48,880 $29,105.63 | $18,200 $21,840.87 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NZ$5,666.67 /mo $3,374.22 | N/A/mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NZ$4,533.33 /mo $2,699.37 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | NZ$61,828 /yr $36,815.53 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means New Zealand is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- 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 moving from the Cayman Islands to New Zealand would see a 33% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Cayman Islands's perspective: Cayman Islands vs New Zealand
Compare New Zealand with...
New Zealand vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
New Zealand vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
New Zealand vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
New Zealand vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
New Zealand vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
New Zealand vs France € 12.02 /hr 
New Zealand vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
New Zealand vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
New Zealand vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
New Zealand vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
New Zealand vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
New Zealand vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
New Zealand vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
New Zealand vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
New Zealand vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
New Zealand vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
New Zealand vs Switzerland 
New Zealand vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
New Zealand vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
New Zealand vs Sweden 
New Zealand vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
New Zealand vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in New Zealand or Cayman Islands?
In New Zealand, the minimum wage is NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD). In the Cayman Islands, it is $8.75/hr ($10.50 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 New Zealand and Cayman Islands?
Both New Zealand 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.