Key Facts: Eswatini vs Cuba Wages
- Eswatini Minimum Wage
- L2,500/mo ($156.15 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Eswatini Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L6,000 /mo ($374.77 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Eswatini) / Wages Regulation Order (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Eswatini 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eswatini is roughly 5282 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $375/mo in Eswatini versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 23.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 34.2%.
Eswatini's unemployment rate is 34.2% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eswatini | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | L2,500 $156.15 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | L6,000 /mo $374.77 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | L5,000 /mo $312.30 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | L24,000 /yr $1,499.06 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eswatini is higher.
Work Week
- Eswatini
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum 54 hours per week including overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Sunday and public holidays compensated at 2x. Employees are entitled to 14 days paid annual leave.
- 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 Eswatini would see a 528138% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eswatini mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eswatini are $7,495 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Eswatini
Compare Eswatini with...
Eswatini vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eswatini vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eswatini vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eswatini vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eswatini vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eswatini vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eswatini vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eswatini vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eswatini vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eswatini vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eswatini vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eswatini vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eswatini vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eswatini vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eswatini vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eswatini vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eswatini vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eswatini vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eswatini vs Switzerland 
Eswatini vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eswatini vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eswatini vs Sweden 
Eswatini vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Eswatini vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eswatini or Cuba?
In Eswatini, the minimum wage is L2,500/mo ($156.15 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Eswatini has the higher rate by 528138% 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 Eswatini compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Eswatini is L6,000/mo ($374.77 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Eswatini earn approximately 2211% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eswatini and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eswatini earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Eswatini and Cuba?
Eswatini has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Eswatini work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.