Cuba Italy

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Italy

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

€2,600 /mo

Avg. salary: -99% Cuba vs Italy

Unlike Italy, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cuba mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $3,028/mo in Italy, a 186.7:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.4%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Italy's 6.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Italy
Metric	Cuba	Italy	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	€2,600 /mo $3,027.83	-99.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	€1,850 /mo $2,154.42	-99.3%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	€22,500 /yr $26,202.40	-99.6%

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.
Italy: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Legislative Decree 66/2003). Maximum average weekly hours including overtime is 48 hours over a 4-month reference period, per EU Working Time Directive. Overtime compensation is regulated by collective agreements, typically 15-30% surcharge depending on hours and sector.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Italy mandates 40 hours.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Italy?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Italy, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Italy?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to €2,600/mo ($3,027.83 USD) in Italy. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 18571% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Italy is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Italy 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 Italy?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Italy. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Italy 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.