Cuba Benin

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Benin

Minimum Wage

CFA300 /hr

$0.54 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Min wage: -95% Cuba vs Benin Avg. salary: -92% Cuba vs Benin

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 18 times lower than in Benin in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $215/mo in Benin, a 13.3:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Benin's 1.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Benin
Metric	Cuba	Benin	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	CFA300 $0.54	-94.5%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	CFA52,000 $93.36	-94.5%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	CFA624,000 $1,120.29	-94.5%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	-92.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	CFA100,000 /mo $179.53	-91.4%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	CFA480,000 /yr $861.76	-86.4%

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.
Benin: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.12x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours for non-agricultural sectors (48 hours for agriculture). Overtime from 41-48 hours paid at 112% of normal rate; hours exceeding 48 paid at 135%. Night work and weekend overtime carry higher premiums.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Benin (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2011	—	$57/hr
2014	—	$72/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2023	—	$93/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 1722% less per hour in USD terms than one in Benin. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Benin mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $22 in Benin.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Benin?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Benin, it is CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD). Benin has the higher rate by 1722% 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 Benin?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD) in Benin. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1228% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Benin is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Benin 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 Benin?

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