South Africa New Caledonia

Updated 2026-05-04

South Africa

Minimum Wage

R30.23 /hr

$1.86 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

R26,500 /mo

New Caledonia

Minimum Wage

₣991.73 /hr

$7.04 USD

Min wage: -74% South Africa vs New Caledonia

The minimum wage in South Africa is 74% lower than in New Caledonia in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between South Africa and New Caledonia
Metric	South Africa	New Caledonia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	R30.23 $1.86	₣991.73 $7.04	-73.6%
Minimum wage /mo	R5,239.87 $322.38	₣167,602 $1,189.76	-72.9%
Minimum wage /yr	R62,878.40 $3,868.58	₣2,011,224 $14,277.08	-72.9%
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.
New Caledonia: 39 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 39 hours in New Caledonia (differs from metropolitan France's 35 hours). Overtime: 25% premium for hours 40-43, 50% premium beyond 43 hours.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

South Africa New Caledonia Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	South Africa (USD)	New Caledonia (USD)
2019	$1.23/hr	—
2020	$1.28/hr	—
2021	$1.33/hr	—
2022	$1.43/hr	—
2023	$1.56/hr	$6.80/hr
2024	$1.70/hr	$6.93/hr
2025	$1.77/hr	$7.04/hr
2026	$1.86/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in South Africa earns 279% less per hour in USD terms than one in New Caledonia. Standard work weeks differ: South Africa mandates 45 hours while New Caledonia mandates 39 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Africa are $84 vs $275 in New Caledonia.

See this comparison from New Caledonia's perspective: New Caledonia 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 New Caledonia?

In South Africa, the minimum wage is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD). In New Caledonia, it is ₣991.73/hr ($7.04 USD). New Caledonia has the higher rate by 279% 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 New Caledonia?

South Africa has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 39 hours in New Caledonia. Workers in South Africa work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in New Caledonia 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.