Key Facts: Cuba vs Trinidad and Tobago Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Trinidad and Tobago Minimum Wage
- TT$20.50/hr ($3.03 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Trinidad and Tobago Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TT$9,500 /mo ($1,405.33 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Trinidad and Tobago (2026-02-25)
Cuba
Trinidad and Tobago
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 103 times lower than in Trinidad and Tobago 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 $1,405/mo in Trinidad and Tobago, a 86.7:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Trinidad and Tobago's 3.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | TT$20.50 $3.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | TT$164 $24.26 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | TT$3,553.33 $525.64 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | TT$42,640 $6,307.69 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | TT$9,500 /mo $1,405.33 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | TT$7,600 /mo $1,124.26 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | TT$60,000 /yr $8,875.74 |
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.
- Trinidad and Tobago
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Normal hours are 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, and 173.33 hours per month, exclusive of meal and rest breaks. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on public holidays is paid at 2x.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 10159% less per hour in USD terms than one in Trinidad and Tobago. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Trinidad and Tobago mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $121 in Trinidad and Tobago.
See this comparison from Trinidad and Tobago's perspective: Trinidad and Tobago vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Trinidad and Tobago?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Trinidad and Tobago, it is TT$20.50/hr ($3.03 USD). Trinidad and Tobago has the higher rate by 10159% 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to TT$9,500/mo ($1,405.33 USD) in Trinidad and Tobago. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 8566% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Trinidad and Tobago. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Trinidad and Tobago 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.