Key Facts: Saudi Arabia vs Cuba Wages
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; minimum wage for Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/mo unchanged since March 2021 Nitaqat reforms (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Saudi Arabia 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is roughly 208 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: $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 172.7:1 ratio.
Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Saudi Arabia | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ﷼23.08 $6.15 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ﷼48,000 $12,800 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 | $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 Saudi Arabia is higher.
Work Week
- Saudi Arabia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
- 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 Saudi Arabia would see a 20720% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Saudi Arabia are $295 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Saudi Arabia
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Is the minimum wage higher in Saudi Arabia or Cuba?
In Saudi Arabia, the minimum wage is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Saudi Arabia has the higher rate by 20720% 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 Saudi Arabia compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Saudi Arabia is ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 17166% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Saudi Arabia and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Saudi Arabia and Cuba?
Saudi Arabia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Saudi Arabia 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.