Laos Cuba

Updated 2026-02-25

Laos

Minimum Wage

₭10,417 /hr

$0.48 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₭4,000,000 /mo

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Min wage: +1537% Laos vs Cuba Avg. salary: +1046% Laos vs Cuba

The minimum wage in Laos is roughly 16 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: $186/mo in Laos versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 11.5:1 ratio.

Laos' unemployment rate is 1.2% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Laos and Cuba
Metric	Laos	Cuba	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₭10,417 $0.48	$MN12.12 $0.03	+1536.7%
Minimum wage /mo	₭2,500,000 $116.12	$MN2,100 $5.12	+2167.0%
Minimum wage /yr	—	$MN25,200 $61.46	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₭4,000,000 /mo $185.79	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	+1045.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	₭3,600,000 /mo $167.21	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	+988.2%
Median individual income /yr	₭18,000,000 /yr $836.04	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	+614.1%

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

Work Week

Laos: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Workers in dangerous conditions are limited to 6 hours/day or 36 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 45 hours/month or 3 hours/day. Overtime compensation: 1.5x regular rate on normal days, 2.5x on weekly rest days during daytime, 3x on rest days at night. Governed by the Labour Law.
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)

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

Year	Laos (USD)	Cuba (USD)
2005	—	$0.55/hr
2018	$51/hr	—
2019	—	$0.98/hr
2020	—	$0.98/hr
2021	—	$5.12/hr
2022	$60/hr	—
2023	$74/hr	—
2024	$116/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Laos would see a 1537% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Laos mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Laos are $23 vs $1 in Cuba.

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

Compare Laos with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Laos or Cuba?

In Laos, the minimum wage is ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Laos has the higher rate by 1537% 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 Laos compared to Cuba?

The average gross salary in Laos is ₭4,000,000/mo ($185.79 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Laos earn approximately 1046% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Laos and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Laos earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Laos and Cuba?

Laos has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Laos work 48 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.