Key Facts: Australia vs Cuba Wages
- Australia Minimum Wage
- A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Australia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- A$7,833 /mo ($5,619.08 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Work Commission / Fair Work Ombudsman (2026-05-27), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Australia 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Australia is roughly 605 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,619/mo in Australia versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 346.5:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.1%.
Australia's unemployment rate is 4.1% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Australia | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | A$24.95 $17.90 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | A$4,108 $2,946.92 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | A$49,296 $35,362.98 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | A$7,833 /mo $5,619.08 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | A$5,875 /mo $4,214.49 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | A$67,600 /yr $48,493.54 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Australia is higher.
Work Week
- Australia
-
38 hrs/wk standard
Max 38 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard full-time workweek is 38 hours. Employers can request reasonable additional hours. Overtime and penalty rates vary by Modern Award.
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Australia would see a 60446% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Australia mandates 38 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Australia are $680 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Australia
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Australia vs Switzerland 
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Is the minimum wage higher in Australia or Cuba?
In Australia, the minimum wage is A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Australia has the higher rate by 60446% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Australia compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Australia is A$7,833/mo ($5,619.08 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Australia earn approximately 34549% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Australia and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Australia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Australia and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 38 hours in Australia. Workers in Australia work 38 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Australia 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.