Cuba Venezuela

Updated 2026-05-04

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Venezuela

Minimum Wage

Bs.D0.68 /hr

$0.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Bs.D500 /mo

Min wage: +59% Cuba vs Venezuela Avg. salary: +18% Cuba vs Venezuela

The minimum wage in Cuba is 59% higher than in Venezuela when converted to USD. Average salaries are higher in Cuba at $16/mo compared to $14/mo in Venezuela. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.3%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Venezuela's 5.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Venezuela
Metric	Cuba	Venezuela	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	Bs.D0.68 $0.02	+58.7%
Minimum wage /day	—	Bs.D5.42 $0.15	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	Bs.D130 $3.56	+43.8%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	Bs.D500 /mo $13.70	+18.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	N/A/mo	—
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	N/A/yr	—

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.
Venezuela: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Organic Labour Law (LOTTT) of 2012 sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Certain sectors may work up to 44 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 100 hours/year and paid at a premium of at least 50%. Night work (7pm–5am) carries a 30% premium. Workers are entitled to 2 years advance notice before termination — the LOTTT provides extremely strong job security provisions. Saturday is often worked in practice in commerce/industry.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba Venezuela Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	Venezuela (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$10959/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$0.27/hr
2022	—	$3.56/hr
2023	—	$3.56/hr
2024	—	$3.56/hr
2025	—	$3.56/hr
2026	—	$3.56/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Venezuela to Cuba would see a 59% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Venezuela mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $1 in Venezuela.

See this comparison from Venezuela's perspective: Venezuela vs Cuba

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Venezuela?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Venezuela, it is Bs.D0.68/hr ($0.02 USD). Cuba has the higher rate by 59% 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 Venezuela may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Venezuela?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Bs.D500/mo ($13.70 USD) in Venezuela. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 18% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Venezuela is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cuba earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Venezuela.

How do work hours compare between Cuba and Venezuela?

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