Cuba Barbados

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Barbados

Minimum Wage

Bds$10.71 /hr

$5.36 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Bds$3,900 /mo

Min wage: -99% Cuba vs Barbados Avg. salary: -99% Cuba vs Barbados

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 181 times lower than in Barbados 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 $1,950/mo in Barbados, a 120.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.5%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Barbados' 6.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Barbados
Metric	Cuba	Barbados	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	Bds$10.71 $5.36	-99.4%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	Bds$1,855.07 $927.54	-99.4%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	Bds$22,260.80 $11,130.40	-99.4%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	Bds$3,900 /mo $1,950	-99.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	Bds$3,120 /mo $1,560	-99.0%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	Bds$28,000 /yr $14,000	-99.2%

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.
Barbados: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). The Shops Act allows up to 48 hours in some retail sectors. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on Sundays and public holidays typically paid at 2x the regular rate.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Barbados (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2012	—	$542/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	$737/hr
2025	—	$910/hr
2026	—	$928/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 18015% less per hour in USD terms than one in Barbados. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Barbados mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $214 in Barbados.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Barbados?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Barbados, it is Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD). Barbados has the higher rate by 18015% 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 Barbados?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Bds$3,900/mo ($1,950 USD) in Barbados. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 11924% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Barbados is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Barbados 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 Barbados?

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