Key Facts: Burundi vs Cuba Wages
- Burundi Minimum Wage
- FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Burundi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FBu60,000 /mo ($20.19 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère de la Fonction Publique du Burundi (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Burundi
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Burundi is roughly 47 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Burundi at $20/mo compared to $16/mo in Cuba.
Burundi's unemployment rate is 0.9% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Burundi | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | FBu160 $0.05 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FBu4,160 $1.40 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FBu60,000 /mo $20.19 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Burundi is higher.
Work Week
- Burundi
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Burundi would see a 4635% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Burundi mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Burundi are $56 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Burundi
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Burundi or Cuba?
In Burundi, the minimum wage is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Burundi has the higher rate by 4635% 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 Burundi compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Burundi is FBu60,000/mo ($20.19 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Burundi earn approximately 24% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Burundi and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Burundi earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Burundi and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burundi. Workers in Burundi work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Burundi 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.