Cuba Canada

Updated 2026-05-28

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Canada

Minimum Wage

C$18.10 /hr

$13.09 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

C$5,708 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Canada Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs Canada

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 443 times lower than in Canada 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 $4,127/mo in Canada, a 254.5:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.9%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Canada's 6.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Canada
Metric	Cuba	Canada	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	C$18.10 $13.09	-99.8%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	C$3,137.33 $2,268.50	-99.8%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	C$37,648 $27,221.98	-99.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	C$5,708 /mo $4,127.26	-99.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	C$4,334 /mo $3,133.77	-99.5%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	C$44,000 /yr $31,814.90	-99.6%

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.
Canada: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Federal standard is 40 hours/week with overtime after 40 hours at 1.5x. Maximum 48 hours/week unless authorized. Provincial rules vary (e.g., Ontario overtime after 44 hrs).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Canada (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	$11/hr
2022	—	$11/hr
2023	—	$12/hr
2024	—	$13/hr
2025	—	$13/hr
2026	—	$13/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 44173% less per hour in USD terms than one in Canada. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Canada mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $523 in Canada.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Canada?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Canada, it is C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD). Canada has the higher rate by 44173% 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 Canada?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to C$5,708/mo ($4,127.26 USD) in Canada. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 25350% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Canada is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Canada 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 Canada?

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