Peru Cuba

Updated 2026-05-27

Peru

Minimum Wage

S/5.89 /hr

$1.60 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

S/2,200 /mo

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Min wage: +5314% Peru vs Cuba Avg. salary: +3586% Peru vs Cuba

The minimum wage in Peru is roughly 54 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 Peru versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 36.9:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 5.1%.

Peru's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Peru and Cuba
Metric	Peru	Cuba	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	S/5.89 $1.60	$MN12.12 $0.03	+5314.4%
Minimum wage /mo	S/1,130 $307.07	$MN2,100 $5.12	+5895.1%
Minimum wage /yr	S/15,820 $4,298.91	$MN25,200 $61.46	+6894.3%
Avg. gross salary /mo	S/2,200 /mo $597.83	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	+3586.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	S/1,870 /mo $508.15	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	+3207.0%
Median individual income /yr	S/15,600 /yr $4,239.13	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	+3520.9%

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

Work Week

Peru: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Constitution sets maximum at 48 hours/week, 8 hours/day (or 6 days at 8 hrs). Office workers commonly work 40-45 hrs. Overtime: first 2 hours at 125%, subsequent hours at 135%. Night shift (10pm-6am) receives a 35% surcharge.
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)

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

Year	Peru (USD)	Cuba (USD)
2005	—	$0.55/hr
2015	$204/hr	—
2016	$231/hr	—
2018	$253/hr	—
2019	—	$0.98/hr
2020	—	$0.98/hr
2021	—	$5.12/hr
2022	$279/hr	—
2025	$307/hr	—

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Peru would see a 5314% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Peru mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Peru are $77 vs $1 in Cuba.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Peru or Cuba?

In Peru, the minimum wage is S/5.89/hr ($1.60 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Peru has the higher rate by 5314% 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 Peru compared to Cuba?

The average gross salary in Peru is S/2,200/mo ($597.83 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Peru earn approximately 3586% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Peru and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Peru earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Peru and Cuba?

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