Cuba Ecuador

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Ecuador

Minimum Wage

$1.96 /hr

Avg. Gross Salary

$650 /mo

Min wage: -98% Cuba vs Ecuador Avg. salary: -98% Cuba vs Ecuador

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 66 times lower than in Ecuador in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $650/mo in Ecuador, a 40.1:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Ecuador's 3.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Ecuador
Metric	Cuba	Ecuador	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	$1.96	-98.5%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	$470	-98.9%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	$6,580	-99.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	$650 /mo	-97.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	$585 /mo	-97.4%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	$4,800 /yr	-97.6%

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.
Ecuador: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Código del Trabajo sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime (horas suplementarias) is paid at 50% premium for day hours and 100% premium for night hours (7pm-6am) and weekends/holidays. Maximum 4 hours of overtime per day, 12 hours per week. Night work (7pm-6am) has a 25% surcharge even within regular hours.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Ecuador (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2018	—	$386/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	$394/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	$400/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$400/hr
2022	—	$425/hr
2023	—	$450/hr
2024	—	$460/hr
2025	—	$470/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 6530% less per hour in USD terms than one in Ecuador. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Ecuador mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $78 in Ecuador.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Ecuador?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Ecuador, it is $1.96/hr. Ecuador has the higher rate by 6530% 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 Ecuador?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to $650/mo in Ecuador. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 3908% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Ecuador is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ecuador 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 Ecuador?

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