Cuba Malaysia

Updated 2026-05-27

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Malaysia

Minimum Wage

RM8.72 /hr

$2.20 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RM4,000 /mo

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

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 74 times lower than in Malaysia 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 $1,009/mo in Malaysia, a 62.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 3.8%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Malaysia's 3.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Malaysia
Metric	Cuba	Malaysia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	RM8.72 $2.20	-98.7%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	RM1,700 $428.75	-98.8%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	RM20,400 $5,145.02	-98.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83	-98.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	RM3,520 /mo $887.77	-98.3%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85	-98.5%

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.
Malaysia: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Malaysia (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2013	—	$227/hr
2016	—	$252/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	$277/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	$303/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2022	—	$378/hr
2025	—	$429/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 7340% less per hour in USD terms than one in Malaysia. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Malaysia mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $99 in Malaysia.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Malaysia?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Malaysia, it is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD). Malaysia has the higher rate by 7340% 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 Malaysia?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD) in Malaysia. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 6121% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Malaysia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malaysia 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 Malaysia?

Malaysia has a longer standard work week at 45 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.