Key Facts: Cuba vs Norway Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)
Cuba 
Norway
Updated 2026-05-28
Unlike Norway, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cuba mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $5,953/mo in Norway, a 367.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.6%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Norway's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 |
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.
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.
See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway 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 Norway?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Norway, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Norway?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 36610% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway 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 Norway?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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.