Key Facts: Bulgaria vs Cuba Wages
- Bulgaria Minimum Wage
- лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Bulgaria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- лв2,200 /mo ($1,325.30 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Bulgaria 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Bulgaria is roughly 149 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,325/mo in Bulgaria versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 81.7:1 ratio.
Bulgaria's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bulgaria | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | лв7.30 $4.40 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | лв1,213 $730.72 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | лв14,556 $8,768.67 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | лв2,200 /mo $1,325.30 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | лв1,720 /mo $1,036.14 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | лв14,400 /yr $8,674.70 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Bulgaria is higher.
Work Week
- Bulgaria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime premium: 50% for weekdays, 75% for weekends, 100% for public holidays. Annual overtime limit of 150 hours.
- 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 Bulgaria would see a 14776% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Bulgaria mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bulgaria are $176 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Bulgaria
Compare Bulgaria with...
Bulgaria vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Bulgaria vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Bulgaria vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Bulgaria vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Bulgaria vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Bulgaria vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Bulgaria vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Bulgaria vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Switzerland 
Bulgaria vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Bulgaria vs Sweden 
Bulgaria vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Bulgaria vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bulgaria or Cuba?
In Bulgaria, the minimum wage is лв7.30/hr ($4.40 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Bulgaria has the higher rate by 14776% 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 Bulgaria compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Bulgaria is лв2,200/mo ($1,325.30 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Bulgaria earn approximately 8072% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bulgaria and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bulgaria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Bulgaria and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Bulgaria. Workers in Bulgaria work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Bulgaria 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.