Key Facts: Nicaragua vs Cuba Wages
- Nicaragua Minimum Wage
- C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Nicaragua Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$15,000 /mo ($407.61 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo (Ministry of Labour) / National Minimum Wage Commission — Nicaragua (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Nicaragua 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Nicaragua is roughly 51 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: $408/mo in Nicaragua versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 25.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.0%.
Nicaragua's unemployment rate is 5.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nicaragua | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$55.48 $1.51 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$13,315.61 $361.84 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$15,000 /mo $407.61 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$12,000 /mo $326.09 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$72,000 /yr $1,956.52 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nicaragua is higher.
Work Week
- Nicaragua
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Night work is limited to 45 hours/week (7.5 hours/day). Mixed shifts limited to 7 hours/day. Overtime is paid at 2x the regular rate. Workers are entitled to one mandatory rest day per week. Governed by the Código del Trabajo (Labour Code).
- 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 Nicaragua would see a 5000% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Nicaragua mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nicaragua are $72 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Nicaragua
Compare Nicaragua with...
Nicaragua vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Nicaragua vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Nicaragua vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Nicaragua vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Switzerland 
Nicaragua vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Sweden 
Nicaragua vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Nicaragua or Cuba?
In Nicaragua, the minimum wage is C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Nicaragua has the higher rate by 5000% 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 Nicaragua compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Nicaragua is C$15,000/mo ($407.61 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Nicaragua earn approximately 2413% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nicaragua and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nicaragua earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Nicaragua and Cuba?
Nicaragua has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Nicaragua 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.