Cuba Bhutan

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Bhutan

Minimum Wage

Nu3,250 /mo

$35.75 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Nu18,000 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Bhutan Avg. salary: -92% Cuba vs Bhutan

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 1209 times lower than in Bhutan 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 $198/mo in Bhutan, a 12.2:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Bhutan's 3.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Bhutan
Metric	Cuba	Bhutan	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /day	—	Nu125 $1.38	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	Nu3,250 $35.75	-85.7%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	Nu39,000 $429.04	-85.7%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	Nu18,000 /mo $198.02	-91.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	Nu16,000 /mo $176.02	-91.3%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	Nu72,000 /yr $792.08	-85.2%

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.
Bhutan: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Bhutan Labour and Employment Act 2007 sets a 40-hour standard workweek (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. The public sector follows a 5-day, 8-hour schedule.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 120849% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bhutan. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Bhutan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $1,430 in Bhutan.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Bhutan?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Bhutan, it is Nu3,250/mo ($35.75 USD). Bhutan has the higher rate by 120849% 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 Bhutan?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Nu18,000/mo ($198.02 USD) in Bhutan. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1121% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Bhutan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bhutan 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 Bhutan?

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