Iran Cuba

Updated 2026-05-04

Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Min wage: +3346% Iran vs Cuba Avg. salary: +3527% Iran vs Cuba

The minimum wage in Iran is roughly 34 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: $588/mo in Iran versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 36.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 8.3%.

Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iran and Cuba
Metric	Iran	Cuba	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	﷼692,731 $1.02	$MN12.12 $0.03	+3346.2%
Minimum wage /day	﷼5,541,850 $8.15	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	﷼166,255,500 $244.49	$MN2,100 $5.12	+4673.4%
Minimum wage /yr	﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92	$MN25,200 $61.46	+4673.4%
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	+3527.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	—
Median individual income /yr	﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	+1708.8%

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

Work Week

Iran: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
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)

Iran Cuba Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Iran (USD)	Cuba (USD)
2005	—	$0.55/hr
2019	—	$0.98/hr
2020	$25/hr	$0.98/hr
2021	$40/hr	$5.12/hr
2022	$84/hr	—
2023	$196/hr	—
2024	$265/hr	—
2025	$153/hr	—
2026	$244/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Iran would see a 3346% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Iran

Compare Iran with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or Cuba?

In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Iran has the higher rate by 3346% 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 Iran compared to Cuba?

The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 3527% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Iran and Cuba?

Both Iran 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.