Key Facts: Israel vs Cuba Wages
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Israel 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Israel is roughly 425 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: $4,262/mo in Israel versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 262.8:1 ratio.
Israel's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Israel | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₪35.40 $12.57 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Israel is higher.
Work Week
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
- 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 Israel would see a 42433% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Israel mandates 42 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Israel are $528 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Israel
Compare Israel with...
Israel vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Israel vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Israel vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Israel vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Israel vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Israel vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Israel vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Israel vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Israel vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Israel vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Israel vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Israel vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Israel vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Israel vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Israel vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Israel vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Israel vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Israel vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Israel vs Switzerland 
Israel vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Israel vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Israel vs Sweden 
Israel vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Israel vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Israel or Cuba?
In Israel, the minimum wage is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Israel has the higher rate by 42433% 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 Israel compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Israel is ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Israel earn approximately 26182% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Israel and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Israel and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Israel work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.