Cuba Eritrea

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Eritrea

Minimum Wage

Nfk600 /mo

$40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Nfk6,000 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Eritrea Avg. salary: -96% Cuba vs Eritrea

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 1353 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 24.7:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.0%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Eritrea
Metric	Cuba	Eritrea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	Nfk600 $40	-87.2%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	Nfk6,000 /mo $400	-95.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	Nfk5,400 /mo $360	-95.7%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	N/A/yr	—

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.
Eritrea: 44 hrs/wk standard

Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 135214% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Eritrea?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 135214% 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 Eritrea?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2367% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea 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 Eritrea?

Both Cuba and Eritrea 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.