Key Facts: Kenya vs Cuba Wages
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Kenya 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Kenya is roughly 20 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: $326/mo in Kenya versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 20.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.5%.
Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kenya | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | KSh93 $0.61 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kenya is higher.
Work Week
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
- 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 Kenya would see a 1950% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Kenya
Compare Kenya with...
Kenya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Kenya vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Kenya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Kenya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Kenya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Kenya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Kenya vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Kenya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Kenya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Kenya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Kenya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Kenya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Kenya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Kenya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Kenya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Kenya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Kenya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Kenya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Kenya vs Switzerland 
Kenya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Kenya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Kenya vs Sweden 
Kenya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Kenya vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or Cuba?
In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Kenya has the higher rate by 1950% 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 Kenya compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 1909% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kenya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Kenya and Cuba?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Kenya work 52 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.