Cuba Jamaica

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Jamaica

Minimum Wage

J$325 /hr

$2.07 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

J$160,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Cuba vs Jamaica Avg. salary: -98% Cuba vs Jamaica

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 70 times lower than in Jamaica in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $1,019/mo in Jamaica, a 62.8:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Jamaica's 3.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Jamaica
Metric	Cuba	Jamaica	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	J$325 $2.07	-98.6%
Minimum wage /day	—	J$2,600 $16.56	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	J$56,333 $358.81	-98.6%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	J$676,000 $4,305.73	-98.6%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	J$160,000 /mo $1,019.11	-98.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	J$128,000 /mo $815.29	-98.1%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	J$960,000 /yr $6,114.65	-98.1%

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.
Jamaica: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). The Minimum Wage Order defines the reference workweek at 40 hours. Overtime is generally paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays is typically paid at double the normal rate. Some sectors (e.g., hotels, security) may have different arrangements.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Jamaica (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	$193/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	$193/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$193/hr
2022	—	$248/hr
2023	—	$248/hr
2024	—	$359/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 6903% less per hour in USD terms than one in Jamaica. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Jamaica mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $83 in Jamaica.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Jamaica?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Jamaica, it is J$325/hr ($2.07 USD). Jamaica has the higher rate by 6903% 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 Jamaica?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to J$160,000/mo ($1,019.11 USD) in Jamaica. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 6184% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Jamaica is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Jamaica 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 Jamaica?

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