Key Facts: Cuba vs South Korea Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- South Korea Minimum Wage
- ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- South Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩3,960,000 /mo ($2,624.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) (2026-05-15)
Cuba 
South Korea
Updated 2026-05-15
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 231 times lower than in South Korea 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 $2,625/mo in South Korea, a 161.9:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to South Korea's 2.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | ₩10,320 $6.84 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | ₩2,156,880 $1,429.69 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | ₩25,882,560 $17,156.22 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | ₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | ₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | ₩33,360,000 /yr $22,112.63 |
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.
- South Korea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base with maximum 12 hrs overtime (52 total). Overtime, night work (10pm-6am), and holiday work each receive a 50% premium. Businesses with 5-49 employees had a phased implementation completed in 2021. Government proposed a flexible 69-hour weekly cap in 2023 but withdrew after public backlash.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 23041% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Korea. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while South Korea mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $274 in South Korea.
See this comparison from South Korea's perspective: South 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 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 
Cuba vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or South Korea?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In South Korea, it is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD). South Korea has the higher rate by 23041% 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 South Korea?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD) in South Korea. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 16086% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and South Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South 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 South Korea?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Korea. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Korea 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.