Cuba Eswatini

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Eswatini

Minimum Wage

L2,500 /mo

$156.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

L6,000 /mo

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

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 5282 times lower than in Eswatini 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 $375/mo in Eswatini, a 23.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 34.2%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Eswatini's 34.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Eswatini
Metric	Cuba	Eswatini	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	L2,500 $156.15	-96.7%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	L6,000 /mo $374.77	-95.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	L5,000 /mo $312.30	-95.1%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	L24,000 /yr $1,499.06	-92.2%

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.
Eswatini: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 54 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum 54 hours per week including overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Sunday and public holidays compensated at 2x. Employees are entitled to 14 days paid annual leave.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 528138% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eswatini. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Eswatini mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $7,495 in Eswatini.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Eswatini?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Eswatini, it is L2,500/mo ($156.15 USD). Eswatini has the higher rate by 528138% 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 Eswatini?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to L6,000/mo ($374.77 USD) in Eswatini. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2211% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Eswatini is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eswatini 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 Eswatini?

Eswatini has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.