Cuba United States

Updated 2026-05-27

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

United States

Minimum Wage

$7.25 /hr

Avg. Gross Salary

$6,228 /mo

Min wage: -100% Cuba vs United States Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs United States

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 245 times lower than in the United States 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 $6,228/mo in the United States, a 384.0:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.2%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to the United States' 4.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and United States
Metric	Cuba	United States	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	$7.25	-99.6%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	$1,256.67	-99.6%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	$15,080	-99.6%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	$6,228 /mo	-99.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	$4,800 /mo	-99.7%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	$44,225 /yr	-99.7%

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.
United States: 40 hrs/wk standard

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Overtime required after 40 hours/week under FLSA. No federal maximum hours for workers 16+.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba United States Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	United States (USD)
1981	—	$3.35/hr
1990	—	$3.80/hr
1991	—	$4.25/hr
1996	—	$4.75/hr
1997	—	$5.15/hr
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2007	—	$5.85/hr
2008	—	$6.55/hr
2009	—	$7.25/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$7.25/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2024	—	$7.25/hr
2025	—	$7.25/hr
2026	—	$7.25/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 24426% less per hour in USD terms than one in the United States. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while the United States mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $290 in the United States.

See this comparison from United States's perspective: United States vs Cuba

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or United States?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In the United States, it is $7.25/hr. United States has the higher rate by 24426% 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 United States?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to $6,228/mo in the United States. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 38304% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and United States is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the United States 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 United States?

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