Key Facts: Chile vs Cuba Wages
- Chile Minimum Wage
- CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Chile Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CLP750,000 /mo ($816.99 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Dirección del Trabajo / Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social; 2026 rate per Ley 21.751 (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-27), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Chile 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Chile is roughly 110 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: $817/mo in Chile versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 50.4:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 9.0%.
Chile's unemployment rate is 9.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chile | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | CLP2,994 $3.26 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | CLP539,000 $587.15 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | CLP7,007,000 $7,632.90 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CLP750,000 /mo $816.99 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CLP622,500 /mo $678.10 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | CLP6,000,000 /yr $6,535.95 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Chile is higher.
Work Week
- Chile
-
43 hrs/wk standard
Max 43 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Ley de 40 horas (Ley 21.561) is reducing the workweek in steps: 45h → 44h (April 2024) → 43h (April 2026) → 40h (April 2028). As of April 26, 2026 the standard is 43h. Final reduction to 40h takes effect April 2028. Overtime paid at 50% premium, maximum 2 hours/day. Distributed across 5 or 6 working days.
- 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 Chile would see a 10933% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Chile mandates 43 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Chile are $140 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Chile
Compare Chile with...
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Chile vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Chile vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Chile vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Chile vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Chile vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Chile vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Chile vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Chile vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Chile vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Chile vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Chile vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Chile vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Chile vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Chile vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Chile vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Chile vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Chile vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Chile vs Switzerland 
Chile vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Chile vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Chile vs Sweden 
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Chile vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Chile or Cuba?
In Chile, the minimum wage is CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Chile has the higher rate by 10933% 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 Chile compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Chile is CLP750,000/mo ($816.99 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Chile earn approximately 4938% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Chile and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chile earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Chile and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 43 hours in Chile. Workers in Chile work 43 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chile 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.