Cuba Iran

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Min wage: -97% Cuba vs Iran Avg. salary: -97% Cuba vs Iran

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 34 times lower than in Iran 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 $588/mo in Iran, a 36.3:1 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 Iran's 8.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Iran
Metric	Cuba	Iran	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	﷼692,731 $1.02	-97.1%
Minimum wage /day	—	﷼5,541,850 $8.15	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	﷼166,255,500 $244.49	-97.9%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92	-97.9%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24	-97.2%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	N/A/mo	—
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65	-94.5%

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.
Iran: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Iran (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$25/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$40/hr
2022	—	$84/hr
2023	—	$196/hr
2024	—	$265/hr
2025	—	$153/hr
2026	—	$244/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 3346% less per hour in USD terms than one in Iran.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Iran?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). Iran has the higher rate by 3346% 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 Iran?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 3527% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran 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 Iran?

Both Cuba and Iran 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.