Key Facts: Ghana vs Cuba Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 6 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: $236/mo in Ghana versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 14.5:1 ratio.
Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ghana is higher.
Work Week
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Ghana would see a 520% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Ghana
Compare Ghana with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Cuba?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Ghana has the higher rate by 520% 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 Ghana compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 1353% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ghana. Workers in Ghana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ghana 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.