Key Facts: Cuba vs Estonia Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Estonia Minimum Wage
- €5.67/hr ($6.60 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Estonia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,950 /mo ($2,270.87 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Government of Estonia; 2026 figure per Riigi Teataja Government Regulation (töötasu alammäär) eff 2026-04-01 (2026-05-27)
Cuba
Estonia
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 223 times lower than in Estonia 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 $2,271/mo in Estonia, a 140.0:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 8.3%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Estonia's 8.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Estonia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | €5.67 $6.60 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | €946 $1,101.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | €11,352 $13,219.98 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | €1,950 /mo $2,270.87 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | €1,560 /mo $1,816.70 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | €14,400 /yr $16,769.54 |
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.
- Estonia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime must be compensated at 1.5x rate or with equivalent time off. Annual overtime limit varies by agreement.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 22237% less per hour in USD terms than one in Estonia. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Estonia mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $264 in Estonia.
See this comparison from Estonia's perspective: Estonia vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Estonia?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Estonia, it is €5.67/hr ($6.60 USD). Estonia has the higher rate by 22237% 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 Estonia?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to €1,950/mo ($2,270.87 USD) in Estonia. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 13903% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Estonia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Estonia 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 Estonia?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Estonia. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Estonia 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.