Cuba Israel

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Israel

Minimum Wage

₪35.40 /hr

$12.57 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₪12,000 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Israel Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs Israel

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 425 times lower than in Israel 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 $4,262/mo in Israel, a 262.8:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Israel's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Israel
Metric	Cuba	Israel	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	₪35.40 $12.57	-99.8%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	₪6,443.85 $2,288.71	-99.8%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	₪77,326.20 $27,464.46	-99.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12	-99.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59	-99.5%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08	-99.7%

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.
Israel: 42 hrs/wk standard

Max 42 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Israel (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2015	—	$1652/hr
2017	—	$1776/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2022	—	$1882/hr
2023	—	$1979/hr
2025	—	$2088/hr
2026	—	$2289/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 42433% less per hour in USD terms than one in Israel. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $528 in Israel.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Israel?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Israel has the higher rate by 42433% 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 Israel?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 26182% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel 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 Israel?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.