Key Facts: Cuba vs North Korea Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- North Korea Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- North Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩100,000 /mo ($111.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), ILO / World Bank / Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) / NK News (2026-02-25)
Cuba 
North Korea
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cuba mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 6.9:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | North Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | ₩100,000 /mo $111.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | ₩90,000 /mo $100 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | N/A/yr |
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.
- North Korea
-
48 hrs/wk standard
The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea 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 Netherlands € 14.71 /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 Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or North Korea?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to North Korea?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 585% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in North Korea 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 North Korea?
North Korea 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.