Cuba Belize

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Belize

Minimum Wage

BZ$5 /hr

$2.50 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

BZ$1,800 /mo

Min wage: -99% Cuba vs Belize Avg. salary: -98% Cuba vs Belize

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 85 times lower than in Belize in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $900/mo in Belize, a 55.5:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 8.9%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Belize's 8.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Belize
Metric	Cuba	Belize	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	BZ$5 $2.50	-98.8%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	BZ$975 $487.50	-98.9%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	BZ$11,700 $5,850	-98.9%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	BZ$1,800 /mo $900	-98.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	BZ$1,530 /mo $765	-98.0%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	BZ$12,000 /yr $6,000	-98.0%

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.
Belize: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours (9 hours/day, 5 days). All workers are entitled to at least 1 day of rest per week. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate for hours beyond 45/week. Work on Sundays and public holidays is typically paid at double the normal rate. Governed by the Labour Act.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Belize (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2012	—	$322/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2025	—	$488/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 8357% less per hour in USD terms than one in Belize. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Belize mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $113 in Belize.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Belize?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Belize, it is BZ$5/hr ($2.50 USD). Belize has the higher rate by 8357% 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 Belize?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to BZ$1,800/mo ($900 USD) in Belize. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 5450% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Belize is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belize 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 Belize?

Belize has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 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.