Key Facts: Cuba vs Sri Lanka Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Sri Lanka Minimum Wage
- Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Sri Lanka Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rs55,000 /mo ($183.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Department of Labour — Sri Lanka; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Cuba 
Sri Lanka
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 15 times lower than in Sri Lanka in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $184/mo in Sri Lanka, a 11.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.0%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | Rs135 $0.45 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | Rs1,080 $3.61 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | Rs27,000 $90.30 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | Rs324,000 $1,083.61 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | Rs55,000 /mo $183.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | Rs49,500 /mo $165.55 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68 |
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.
- Sri Lanka
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 1427% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sri Lanka. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $20 in Sri Lanka.
See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). Sri Lanka has the higher rate by 1427% 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 Sri Lanka?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1034% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Sri Lanka is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 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.