Key Facts: Japan vs Cuba Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Japan 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-23
The minimum wage in Japan is roughly 238 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: $2,498/mo in Japan versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 154.0:1 ratio.
Japan's unemployment rate is 2.5% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥1,121 $7.03 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Japan is higher.
Work Week
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
- 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 Japan would see a 23677% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Japan mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Japan are $281 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Japan
Compare Japan with...
Japan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Japan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Japan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Japan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Japan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Japan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Japan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Japan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Japan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Japan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Japan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Japan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Japan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Japan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Japan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Japan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Japan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Japan vs Switzerland 
Japan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Japan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Japan vs Sweden 
Japan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Japan vs Singapore 
Japan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or Cuba?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Japan has the higher rate by 23677% 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 Japan compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 15301% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Japan and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Japan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Japan 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.