Cuba Libya

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Libya

Minimum Wage

LD450 /mo

$92.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

LD1,800 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Libya Avg. salary: -96% Cuba vs Libya

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 3132 times lower than in Libya 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 $370/mo in Libya, a 22.8:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 18.8%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Libya's 18.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Libya
Metric	Cuba	Libya	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	LD450 $92.59	-94.5%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	LD1,800 /mo $370.37	-95.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	N/A/mo	—
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48	-92.1%

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.
Libya: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 313126% less per hour in USD terms than one in Libya. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Libya mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $4,444 in Libya.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Libya?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Libya, it is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD). Libya has the higher rate by 313126% 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 Libya?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD) in Libya. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2184% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Libya is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Libya 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 Libya?

Libya 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.