Cuba Chile

Updated 2026-05-27

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Chile

Minimum Wage

CLP2,994 /hr

$3.26 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CLP750,000 /mo

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

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 110 times lower than in Chile 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 $817/mo in Chile, a 50.4:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 9.0%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Chile's 9.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Chile
Metric	Cuba	Chile	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	CLP2,994 $3.26	-99.1%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	CLP539,000 $587.15	-99.1%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	CLP7,007,000 $7,632.90	-99.2%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	CLP750,000 /mo $816.99	-98.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	CLP622,500 /mo $678.10	-97.7%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	CLP6,000,000 /yr $6,535.95	-98.2%

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.
Chile: 43 hrs/wk standard

Max 43 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Ley de 40 horas (Ley 21.561) is reducing the workweek in steps: 45h → 44h (April 2024) → 43h (April 2026) → 40h (April 2028). As of April 26, 2026 the standard is 43h. Final reduction to 40h takes effect April 2028. Overtime paid at 50% premium, maximum 2 hours/day. Distributed across 5 or 6 working days.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Chile (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$356/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$367/hr
2022	—	$436/hr
2023	—	$479/hr
2024	—	$545/hr
2025	—	$576/hr
2026	—	$587/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 10933% less per hour in USD terms than one in Chile. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Chile mandates 43 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $140 in Chile.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Chile?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Chile, it is CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD). Chile has the higher rate by 10933% 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 Chile?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to CLP750,000/mo ($816.99 USD) in Chile. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 4938% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Chile is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chile 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 Chile?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 43 hours in Chile. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chile 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.