Key Facts: Cuba vs Netherlands Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Netherlands Minimum Wage
- €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27)
Cuba 
Netherlands
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 579 times lower than in the Netherlands in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $4,542/mo in the Netherlands, a 280.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 3.9%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to the Netherlands' 3.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | €14.71 $17.13 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | €2,549.73 $2,969.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | €30,596.76 $35,631.49 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 |
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.
- Netherlands
-
36 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 57850% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Netherlands. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while the Netherlands mandates 36 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $617 in the Netherlands.
See this comparison from Netherlands's perspective: Netherlands vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Cuba vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cuba vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cuba vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cuba vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cuba vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cuba vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cuba vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cuba vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cuba vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cuba vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cuba vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cuba vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cuba vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cuba vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Cuba vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cuba vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cuba vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cuba vs Switzerland 
Cuba vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cuba vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cuba vs Sweden 
Cuba vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Cuba vs Singapore 
Cuba vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Netherlands?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In the Netherlands, it is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD). Netherlands has the higher rate by 57850% 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 Netherlands?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in the Netherlands. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 27906% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Netherlands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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.