Cuba Afghanistan

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Afghanistan

Minimum Wage

؋5,500 /mo

$87.05 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

؋30,000 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Afghanistan Avg. salary: -97% Cuba vs Afghanistan

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 2945 times lower than in Afghanistan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $475/mo in Afghanistan, a 29.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 13.3%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Afghanistan's 13.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Afghanistan
Metric	Cuba	Afghanistan	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	؋5,500 $87.05	-94.1%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	؋30,000 /mo $474.83	-96.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	؋26,000 /mo $411.52	-96.3%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	N/A/yr	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cuba is higher.

Work Week

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.
Afghanistan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law (last version under previous government) set 40 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Under Taliban administration, Thursday is sometimes also observed as a rest day. Women's employment is severely restricted under Taliban policies.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 294386% less per hour in USD terms than one in Afghanistan. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Afghanistan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $3,482 in Afghanistan.

See this comparison from Afghanistan's perspective: Afghanistan vs Cuba

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Afghanistan?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Afghanistan, it is ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD). Afghanistan has the higher rate by 294386% 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 less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Afghanistan?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ؋30,000/mo ($474.83 USD) in Afghanistan. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2828% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Afghanistan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Afghanistan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Cuba and Afghanistan?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Afghanistan. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Afghanistan 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.