Key Facts: Qatar vs Cuba Wages
- Qatar Minimum Wage
- QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Qatar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- QAR11,724 /mo ($3,220.88 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour (MOL) — State of Qatar (2026-02-24), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Qatar 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Qatar is roughly 48 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,221/mo in Qatar versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 198.6:1 ratio.
Qatar's unemployment rate is 0.1% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Qatar | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | QAR5.21 $1.43 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | QAR1,000 $274.73 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | QAR12,000 $3,296.70 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Qatar is higher.
Work Week
- Qatar
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.
- 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 Qatar would see a 4742% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Qatar mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Qatar are $69 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Qatar
Compare Qatar with...
Qatar vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Qatar vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Qatar vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Qatar vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Qatar vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Qatar vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Qatar vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Qatar vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Qatar vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Qatar vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Qatar vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Qatar vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Qatar vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Qatar vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Qatar vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Qatar vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Qatar vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Qatar vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Qatar vs Switzerland 
Qatar vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Qatar vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Qatar vs Sweden 
Qatar vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Qatar vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Qatar or Cuba?
In Qatar, the minimum wage is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Qatar has the higher rate by 4742% 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 Qatar compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Qatar is QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Qatar earn approximately 19761% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Qatar and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Qatar and Cuba?
Qatar has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Qatar 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.