Cuba Brunei

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Brunei

Minimum Wage

B$2.62 /hr

$2.06 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

B$2,500 /mo

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

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 70 times lower than in Brunei 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 $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 121.4:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.3%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Brunei
Metric	Cuba	Brunei	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	B$2.62 $2.06	-98.6%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	B$500 $393.70	-98.7%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	B$6,000 $4,724.41	-98.7%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50	-99.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50	-99.2%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23	-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.
Brunei: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Brunei (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2023	—	$394/hr
2025	—	$394/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 6879% less per hour in USD terms than one in Brunei.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Brunei?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Brunei has the higher rate by 6879% 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 Brunei?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 12038% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei 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 Brunei?

Both Cuba and Brunei mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.