Cuba Laos

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Laos

Minimum Wage

₭10,417 /hr

$0.48 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₭4,000,000 /mo

Min wage: -94% Cuba vs Laos Avg. salary: -91% Cuba vs Laos

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 16 times lower than in Laos 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 $186/mo in Laos, a 11.5:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Laos' 1.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Laos
Metric	Cuba	Laos	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	₭10,417 $0.48	-93.9%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	₭2,500,000 $116.12	-95.6%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	₭4,000,000 /mo $185.79	-91.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	₭3,600,000 /mo $167.21	-90.8%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	₭18,000,000 /yr $836.04	-86.0%

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.
Laos: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Workers in dangerous conditions are limited to 6 hours/day or 36 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 45 hours/month or 3 hours/day. Overtime compensation: 1.5x regular rate on normal days, 2.5x on weekly rest days during daytime, 3x on rest days at night. Governed by the Labour Law.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Laos (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2018	—	$51/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2022	—	$60/hr
2023	—	$74/hr
2024	—	$116/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 1537% less per hour in USD terms than one in Laos. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Laos mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $23 in Laos.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Laos?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Laos, it is ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD). Laos has the higher rate by 1537% 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 Laos?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ₭4,000,000/mo ($185.79 USD) in Laos. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1046% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Laos is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Laos 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 Laos?

Laos 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.