Cuba Malawi

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Malawi

Minimum Wage

MK240.40 /hr

$0.14 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

MK120,000 /mo

Min wage: -79% Cuba vs Malawi Avg. salary: -77% Cuba vs Malawi

The minimum wage in Cuba is 79% lower than in Malawi in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $69/mo in Malawi, a 4.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.1%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Malawi's 5.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Malawi
Metric	Cuba	Malawi	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	MK240.40 $0.14	-78.7%
Minimum wage /day	—	MK1,923 $1.11	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	MK50,000 $28.82	-82.2%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	MK600,000 $345.82	-82.2%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	MK120,000 /mo $69.16	-76.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	N/A/mo	—
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	MK360,000 /yr $207.49	-43.6%

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.
Malawi: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act (Cap 55:02) sets maximum ordinary working hours at 48 per week (8 hrs/day, 6 days) or 45 hours over 5 days. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Night work (6pm–6am) attracts a premium. Public holidays are compensated at double time if worked. Workers are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after 12 months.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Malawi (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2018	—	$10/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$16/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$20/hr
2022	—	$21/hr
2023	—	$29/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 369% less per hour in USD terms than one in Malawi. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Malawi mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $7 in Malawi.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Malawi?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Malawi, it is MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD). Malawi has the higher rate by 369% 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 Malawi?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to MK120,000/mo ($69.16 USD) in Malawi. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 326% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Malawi is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malawi 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 Malawi?

Malawi 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.