Cuba El Salvador

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

El Salvador

Minimum Wage

$2.13 /hr

Avg. Gross Salary

$500 /mo

Min wage: -99% Cuba vs El Salvador Avg. salary: -97% Cuba vs El Salvador

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 72 times lower than in El Salvador 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 $500/mo in El Salvador, a 30.8:1 ratio.

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

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and El Salvador
Metric	Cuba	El Salvador	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	$2.13	-98.6%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	$408.80	-98.7%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	$500 /mo	-96.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	$435 /mo	-96.5%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	$3,600 /yr	-96.7%

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.
El Salvador: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Standard workweek is 44 hours, typically spread over 6 days (8 hours/day plus 4 hours on Saturday, or 5.5 days). Overtime (beyond 44 hours/week) is paid at 2x the regular rate — one of the highest overtime premiums in the region. Work on the mandatory weekly rest day (usually Sunday) or on public holidays is also compensated at double the regular rate. Night work (7pm-6am) limited to 7 hours/day, 39 hours/week.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba El Salvador Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	El Salvador (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2014	—	$242/hr
2017	—	$300/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	$365/hr
2025	—	$409/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 7105% less per hour in USD terms than one in El Salvador.

See this comparison from El Salvador's perspective: El Salvador vs Cuba

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or El Salvador?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In El Salvador, it is $2.13/hr. El Salvador has the higher rate by 7105% 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 El Salvador?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to $500/mo in El Salvador. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2983% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and El Salvador is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in El Salvador 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 El Salvador?

Both Cuba and El Salvador 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.