Key Facts: Eritrea vs Cuba Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 1353 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 24.7:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Eritrea would see a 135214% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
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Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
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Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Cuba?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 135214% 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 more does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 2367% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Cuba?
Both Eritrea and Cuba mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.