Key Facts: Malawi vs Cuba Wages
- Malawi Minimum Wage
- MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Malawi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- MK120,000 /mo ($69.16 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Malawi Ministry of Labour / Minimum Wages Board / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Malawi 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Malawi is 369% higher than in Cuba when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $69/mo in Malawi versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 4.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.1%.
Malawi's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malawi | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | MK240.40 $0.14 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | MK1,923 $1.11 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | MK50,000 $28.82 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | MK600,000 $345.82 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | MK120,000 /mo $69.16 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | MK360,000 /yr $207.49 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malawi is higher.
Work Week
- Malawi
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act (Cap 55:02) sets maximum ordinary working hours at 48 per week (8 hrs/day, 6 days) or 45 hours over 5 days. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Night work (6pm–6am) attracts a premium. Public holidays are compensated at double time if worked. Workers are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after 12 months.
- 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 Malawi would see a 369% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Malawi mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malawi are $7 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Malawi
Compare Malawi with...
Malawi vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Malawi vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Malawi vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Malawi vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Malawi vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Malawi vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Malawi vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Malawi vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Malawi vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Malawi vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Malawi vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Malawi vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Malawi vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Malawi vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Malawi vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Malawi vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Malawi vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Malawi vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Malawi vs Switzerland 
Malawi vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Malawi vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Malawi vs Sweden 
Malawi vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Malawi vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malawi or Cuba?
In Malawi, the minimum wage is MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Malawi has the higher rate by 369% 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 Malawi compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Malawi is MK120,000/mo ($69.16 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Malawi earn approximately 326% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malawi and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malawi earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Malawi and Cuba?
Malawi has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Malawi 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.