Cuba Mexico

Updated 2026-03-02

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Mexico

Minimum Wage

MX$9,583.52 /mo

$553.10 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

MX$16,500 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Mexico Avg. salary: -98% Cuba vs Mexico

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 18710 times lower than in Mexico 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 $952/mo in Mexico, a 58.7:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Mexico's 2.7%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Mexico
Metric	Cuba	Mexico	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /day	—	MX$315.04 $18.18	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	MX$9,583.52 $553.10	-99.1%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	MX$114,989.60 $6,636.44	-99.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	MX$16,500 /mo $952.27	-98.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	MX$14,200 /mo $819.53	-98.1%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	MX$96,000 /yr $5,540.49	-97.9%

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.
Mexico: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (daytime). Night shift maximum is 42 hours, mixed shift 45 hours. First 9 hours of overtime per week at 200% rate; beyond that at 300%. A 2023 reform discussion to reduce to 40 hours is pending.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 1870939% less per hour in USD terms than one in Mexico. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Mexico mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $26,549 in Mexico.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Mexico?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Mexico, it is MX$9,583.52/mo ($553.10 USD). Mexico has the higher rate by 1870939% 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 Mexico?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to MX$16,500/mo ($952.27 USD) in Mexico. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 5772% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Mexico is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mexico 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 Mexico?

Mexico 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.