Key Facts: Libya vs Cuba Wages
- Libya Minimum Wage
- LD450/mo ($92.59 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Libya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- LD1,800 /mo ($370.37 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation (Libya) (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Libya 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Libya is roughly 3132 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $370/mo in Libya versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 22.8:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 18.8%.
Libya's unemployment rate is 18.8% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Libya | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | LD450 $92.59 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | LD1,800 /mo $370.37 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Libya is higher.
Work Week
- Libya
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Libya would see a 313126% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Libya mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Libya are $4,444 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Libya
Compare Libya with...
Libya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Libya vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Libya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Libya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Libya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Libya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Libya vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Libya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Libya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Libya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Libya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Libya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Libya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Libya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Libya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Libya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Libya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Libya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Libya vs Switzerland 
Libya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Libya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Libya vs Sweden 
Libya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Libya vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Libya or Cuba?
In Libya, the minimum wage is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Libya has the higher rate by 313126% 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 Libya compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Libya is LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Libya earn approximately 2184% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Libya and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Libya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Libya and Cuba?
Libya has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Libya 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.