Key Facts: South Africa vs Cayman Islands Wages
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD)
- Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
- $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD)
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,630.41 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04), Cayman Islands Government — Department of Labour and Pensions (2026-05-04)
South Africa 
Cayman Islands
Updated 2026-05-04
Cayman Islands Minimum Wage
$8.75 /hr
$10.50 USD
The minimum wage in South Africa is roughly 6 times lower than in the Cayman Islands in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Africa | Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R30.23 $1.86 | $8.75 $10.50 |
| Minimum wage /mo | R5,239.87 $322.38 | $1,516.67 $1,820.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | R62,878.40 $3,868.58 | $18,200 $21,840.87 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R26,500 /mo $1,630.41 | N/A/mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R21,500 /mo $1,322.78 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | R72,000 /yr $4,429.79 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Africa is higher.
Work Week
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 2x.
- 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 South Africa earns 465% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Cayman Islands. Standard work weeks differ: South Africa mandates 45 hours while the Cayman Islands mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Africa are $84 vs $420 in the Cayman Islands.
See this comparison from Cayman Islands's perspective: Cayman Islands vs South Africa
Compare South Africa with...
South Africa vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Africa vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
South Africa vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
South Africa vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
South Africa vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Africa vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Africa vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Africa vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
South Africa vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Africa vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
South Africa vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Africa vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
South Africa vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Africa vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Africa vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Africa vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
South Africa vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
South Africa vs Switzerland 
South Africa vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
South Africa vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
South Africa vs Sweden 
South Africa vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
South Africa vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Africa or Cayman Islands?
In South Africa, the minimum wage is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD). In the Cayman Islands, it is $8.75/hr ($10.50 USD). Cayman Islands has the higher rate by 465% 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 South Africa may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How do work hours compare between South Africa and Cayman Islands?
South Africa has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Cayman Islands. Workers in South Africa work 45 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.