Key Facts: Paraguay vs Cuba Wages
- Paraguay Minimum Wage
- ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Paraguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₲4,500,000 /mo ($598.40 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social (MTESS); 2024 figure corrected via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-07-01) (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Paraguay
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Paraguay is roughly 66 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: $598/mo in Paraguay versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 36.9:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.8%.
Paraguay's unemployment rate is 4.8% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Paraguay | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₲14,574 $1.94 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | ₲93,277 $12.40 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₲2,798,309 $372.12 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₲33,579,708 $4,465.39 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₲4,500,000 /mo $598.40 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₲4,050,000 /mo $538.56 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₲26,400,000 /yr $3,510.64 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Paraguay is higher.
Work Week
- Paraguay
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.
- 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 Paraguay would see a 6456% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Paraguay mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Paraguay are $93 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Paraguay
Compare Paraguay with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Paraguay or Cuba?
In Paraguay, the minimum wage is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Paraguay has the higher rate by 6456% 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 Paraguay compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Paraguay is ₲4,500,000/mo ($598.40 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Paraguay earn approximately 3590% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Paraguay and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Paraguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Paraguay and Cuba?
Paraguay has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Paraguay 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.