Hong Kong Cuba

Updated 2026-05-04

Hong Kong

Minimum Wage

HK$42.10 /hr

$5.37 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

HK$20,500 /mo

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Min wage: +18072% Hong Kong vs Cuba Avg. salary: +16030% Hong Kong vs Cuba

The minimum wage in Hong Kong is roughly 182 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,616/mo in Hong Kong versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 161.3:1 ratio.

Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Hong Kong and Cuba
Metric	Hong Kong	Cuba	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	HK$42.10 $5.37	$MN12.12 $0.03	+18072.2%
Minimum wage /mo	HK$7,297 $931.08	$MN2,100 $5.12	+18078.3%
Minimum wage /yr	HK$87,568 $11,173.52	$MN25,200 $61.46	+18079.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	+16029.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	+16072.1%
Median individual income /yr	HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	+26711.6%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Hong Kong is higher.

Work Week

Hong Kong: hrs/wk standard

Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
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)

Hong Kong Cuba Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Hong Kong (USD)	Cuba (USD)
2005	—	$0.55/hr
2011	$3.57/hr	—
2013	$3.83/hr	—
2015	$4.15/hr	—
2017	$4.40/hr	—
2019	$4.78/hr	$0.98/hr
2020	—	$0.98/hr
2021	—	$5.12/hr
2023	$4.78/hr	—
2025	$5.37/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Hong Kong would see a 18072% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Hong Kong

Compare Hong Kong with...

Hong Kong vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Hong Kong vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Hong Kong vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Hong Kong vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Hong Kong vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Hong Kong vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Hong Kong vs France € 12.02 /hr

Hong Kong vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Hong Kong vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Hong Kong vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Hong Kong vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Hong Kong vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Hong Kong vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Hong Kong vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Hong Kong vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Hong Kong vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Hong Kong vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Hong Kong vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Hong Kong vs Switzerland

Hong Kong vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Hong Kong vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Hong Kong vs Sweden

Hong Kong vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Hong Kong vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or Cuba?

In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Hong Kong has the higher rate by 18072% 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 Hong Kong compared to Cuba?

The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 16030% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.