Cuba Bahamas

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Bahamas

Minimum Wage

B$6.50 /hr

$6.50 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

B$3,500 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Bahamas Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs Bahamas

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 220 times lower than in the Bahamas in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $3,500/mo in the Bahamas, a 215.8:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 9.2%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to the Bahamas' 9.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Bahamas
Metric	Cuba	Bahamas	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	B$6.50 $6.50	-99.5%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	B$1,126.67 $1,126.67	-99.5%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	B$13,520 $13,520	-99.5%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	B$3,500 /mo $3,500	-99.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	B$3,150 /mo $3,150	-99.5%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	B$24,000 /yr $24,000	-99.5%

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.
Bahamas: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate for hours beyond 40 per week or 8 per day. Work on public holidays or rest days is paid at 2x the regular rate. Governed by the Employment Act, 2001.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba Bahamas Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	Bahamas (USD)
2002	—	$650/hr
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2015	—	$910/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2023	—	$1127/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 21888% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Bahamas. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while the Bahamas mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $260 in the Bahamas.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Bahamas?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In the Bahamas, it is B$6.50/hr ($6.50 USD). Bahamas has the higher rate by 21888% 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 Bahamas?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to B$3,500/mo ($3,500 USD) in the Bahamas. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 21482% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Bahamas is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Bahamas 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 Bahamas?

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