Key Facts: Guatemala vs Cuba Wages
- Guatemala Minimum Wage
- Q15.34/hr ($2 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Guatemala Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Q5,800 /mo ($756.19 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social — Guatemala (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Guatemala 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Guatemala is roughly 68 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $756/mo in Guatemala versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 46.6:1 ratio.
Guatemala's unemployment rate is 2.6% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guatemala | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Q15.34 $2 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Q3,681 $479.92 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Q44,172 $5,759.06 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Q5,800 /mo $756.19 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Q5,200 /mo $677.97 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | Q28,000 /yr $3,650.59 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guatemala is higher.
Work Week
- Guatemala
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
- 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 Guatemala would see a 6666% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guatemala mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guatemala are $96 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Guatemala
Compare Guatemala with...
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Guatemala vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Guatemala vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Guatemala vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guatemala or Cuba?
In Guatemala, the minimum wage is Q15.34/hr ($2 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Guatemala has the higher rate by 6666% 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 Guatemala compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Guatemala is Q5,800/mo ($756.19 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Guatemala earn approximately 4563% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guatemala and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guatemala earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Guatemala and Cuba?
Guatemala has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Guatemala 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.