Key Facts: Canada vs Cuba Wages
- Canada Minimum Wage
- C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Canada Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$5,708 /mo ($4,127.26 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Canada - Labour Program (2026-05-28), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Canada 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-28
The minimum wage in Canada is roughly 443 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: $4,127/mo in Canada versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 254.5:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.9%.
Canada's unemployment rate is 6.9% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Canada | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$18.10 $13.09 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$3,137.33 $2,268.50 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | C$37,648 $27,221.98 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$5,708 /mo $4,127.26 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$4,334 /mo $3,133.77 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$44,000 /yr $31,814.90 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Canada is higher.
Work Week
- Canada
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Federal standard is 40 hours/week with overtime after 40 hours at 1.5x. Maximum 48 hours/week unless authorized. Provincial rules vary (e.g., Ontario overtime after 44 hrs).
- 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 Canada would see a 44173% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Canada mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Canada are $523 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Canada
Compare Canada with...
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Canada vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Canada vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Canada vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Canada vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Canada vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Canada vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Canada vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Canada vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
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Canada vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Canada vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Canada vs Switzerland 
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Canada vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Canada or Cuba?
In Canada, the minimum wage is C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Canada has the higher rate by 44173% 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 Canada compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Canada is C$5,708/mo ($4,127.26 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Canada earn approximately 25350% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Canada and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Canada earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Canada and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Canada. Workers in Canada work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Canada 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.