Cuba Qatar

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Qatar

Minimum Wage

QAR5.21 /hr

$1.43 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

QAR11,724 /mo

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

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 48 times lower than in Qatar 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 $3,221/mo in Qatar, a 198.6:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Qatar's 0.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Qatar
Metric	Cuba	Qatar	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	QAR5.21 $1.43	-97.9%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	QAR1,000 $274.73	-98.1%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	QAR12,000 $3,296.70	-98.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88	-99.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88	-99.5%
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.
Qatar: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Qatar (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$206/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$275/hr
2022	—	$275/hr
2023	—	$275/hr
2024	—	$275/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 4742% less per hour in USD terms than one in Qatar. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Qatar mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $69 in Qatar.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Qatar?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Qatar, it is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). Qatar has the higher rate by 4742% 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 Qatar?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD) in Qatar. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 19761% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Qatar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar 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 Qatar?

Qatar 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.