Cuba Timor-Leste

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Timor-Leste

Minimum Wage

$115 /mo

Avg. Gross Salary

$350 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs Timor-Leste Avg. salary: -95% Cuba vs Timor-Leste

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 3890 times lower than in Timor-Leste 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 $350/mo in Timor-Leste, a 21.6:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Timor-Leste's 1.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Timor-Leste
Metric	Cuba	Timor-Leste	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	$115	-95.5%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	$1,380	-95.5%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	$350 /mo	-95.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	$330 /mo	-95.3%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	$1,500 /yr	-92.2%

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.
Timor-Leste: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 52 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Timor-Leste Labour Code sets a standard workweek of 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays and Sundays is at 2x.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 388926% less per hour in USD terms than one in Timor-Leste. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $4,600 in Timor-Leste.

See this comparison from Timor-Leste's perspective: Timor-Leste vs Cuba

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Timor-Leste?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Timor-Leste, it is $115/mo. Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 388926% 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 Timor-Leste?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to $350/mo in Timor-Leste. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2058% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Timor-Leste is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Timor-Leste. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Timor-Leste 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.