City IndexWhat is the minimum wage in cities around the world?
This week in City Index we look into the minimum wages of global cities.

With recent initiatives to raise the minimum wage in many U.S. cities including Los Angeles, debate has risen as to whether the federal minimum wage should follow suit. In a controversial move, Switzerland has just rejected what would have been the highest global minimum wage at $25 per hour. In many countries, minimum wage changes depending on the industry, skill level, and region.
We rounded up the minimum wage rates in several cities to illustrate how these standards vary around the world.
We chose 10 CITIES across the globe, from Astana to Scarborough, to retrieve our data.
Astana
Kazakhstan
$O.69 per hour
121.39 Kazakhstani Tenge
SALARY PER MONTH: 21,364 KZT per month for a 40-hour work week
Kazakhstan's minimum wage is at the same rate as Lusaka, Zambia. At $0.69 USD per hour for a basic labor position, that adds up to $27.60 USD per week.
Cairo
Egypt
$0.94 per hour
157.27 Egyptian Pounds
SALARY PER MONTH: 1,200 EGP per month for a 42-hour work week
Egypt ranks somewhere in the middle for average minimum wage in the Middle East, with Israel as the highest at an average of $1,140 per month and Yemen at $75 per month as one of the lower income countries.
Jakarta
Indonesia
$1.29 per hour
16,875 Indonesian Rupiah
SALARY PER MONTH: 2,700,000 IDR per month for a 40-hour work week
In Indonesia, minimum wage varies depending on the region of the archipelago, much like the United States' individual state minimum wage rates. Salaries vary from 1,100,000 in Jawa Tengah to 1,621,172 in Bali. Jakarta's wage remains the highest in the nation.
New Delhi
India
$1.47 per hour
93.75 Rupees per hour
The minimum wage in India is 15,000 Rupees per month. With a 40 hour work-week, this comes out to less than a dollar-fifty per hour - the lowest wage among countries with large economies.
Scarborough
Tobago
$2.37 per hour
15 Trinidadian Dollars
salary per month: 2,400 TTD per month for a 40-hour work week
As of September 2014, the government of Tobago voted to increase the minimum wage from $12.50 to $15 per hour. This new initiative will also raise public assistance grants, and aim to equalize the pay gap between men and women.
Sao Paulo
Brazil
$5.36 per hour
4.92 Brazilian Reais
salary per month: 788 BRL per month for a 40-hour work week
Brazil has continued to increase its' minimum wage from 724 BRL to the current 788 per month. As Brazil's economy continues to grow, so do its' wages.
Caracas
Venezuela
$7.31 per hour
46.42 Venezuelan Bolívar
salary per month: 7421.67 Venezuelan Bolívar
The minimum wage in Venezuela for most workers is 7421.67 Bs. per month, though they have different minimums for apprentices and pensioners. A Christmas bonus and vacation bonus are compulsory for all workers.
Chicago
IL, USA
$8.75 per hour
SALARY PER MONTH: 1,400 USD per month for a 40-hour work week
Chicago's minimum wage is more than a dollar above the federal wage of $7.25. As of July 1, 2015, minimum wage will increase to $10 per hour, and then to $13 in 2016.
Paris
France
$11.35 per hour
10.41 Euros
SALARY PER MONTH: 1,457.52 EUR per month for a 35-hour work week
Although the French get a side-eye from Americans for "not working enough hours," the benefits seem to even things out. Any work over 35 hours per week is considered overtime, and at a neary $11 minimum wage this covers a substantial amount of living costs.
Sydney
Australia
$13.31 per hour
16.87 Australian Dollars
SALARY PER MONTH: 2,699.2 AU per month for a 40-hour work week
Sydney, Australia tops our list of the highest minimum wage at more than $13 per hour in USD. With the new wage increases to $15 per hour in some U.S. Cities, Australia won't be the highest in several years. In the meantime it definitely explains all the Australian tourists.
COVER IMAGE via shutterstock.com
Additional sources: Bloomberg, CNN, Trading Economics, XE