Key Facts: Costa Rica vs Cuba Wages
- Costa Rica Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Costa Rica 
Cuba
Updated 2026-06-01
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is roughly 103 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: $1,211/mo in Costa Rica versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 74.7:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.8%.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Costa Rica | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₡1,554.55 $3.04 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₡373,092.42 $728.70 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₡4,680,000 /yr $9,140.63 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Costa Rica is higher.
Work Week
- Costa Rica
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary workday at 8 hours (daytime) and 6 hours (nighttime), with 48-hour weekly maximum for day shifts and 36 hours for night shifts. Mixed shifts max at 7 hours/day (42/week). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate (50% premium). In practice, many formal sector jobs work 40-45 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 Costa Rica would see a 10171% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Costa Rica mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Costa Rica are $146 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Costa Rica
Compare Costa Rica with...
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Costa Rica vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
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Costa Rica vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
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Costa Rica vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Costa Rica or Cuba?
In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Costa Rica has the higher rate by 10171% 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 Costa Rica compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 7367% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Costa Rica earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and Cuba?
Costa Rica has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Costa Rica work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.