Key Facts: South Korea vs Cuba Wages
- South Korea Minimum Wage
- ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- South Korea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₩3,960,000 /mo ($2,624.88 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) (2026-05-15), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
South Korea 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-15
The minimum wage in South Korea is roughly 231 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: $2,625/mo in South Korea versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 161.9:1 ratio.
South Korea's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₩10,320 $6.84 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₩2,156,880 $1,429.69 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₩25,882,560 $17,156.22 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₩3,960,000 /mo $2,624.88 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₩3,170,000 /mo $2,101.23 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₩33,360,000 /yr $22,112.63 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Korea is higher.
Work Week
- South Korea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base with maximum 12 hrs overtime (52 total). Overtime, night work (10pm-6am), and holiday work each receive a 50% premium. Businesses with 5-49 employees had a phased implementation completed in 2021. Government proposed a flexible 69-hour weekly cap in 2023 but withdrew after public backlash.
- 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 South Korea would see a 23041% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Korea mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Korea are $274 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs South Korea
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Is the minimum wage higher in South Korea or Cuba?
In South Korea, the minimum wage is ₩10,320/hr ($6.84 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). South Korea has the higher rate by 23041% 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 South Korea compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in South Korea is ₩3,960,000/mo ($2,624.88 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in South Korea earn approximately 16086% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Korea and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Korea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between South Korea and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Korea. Workers in South Korea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Korea 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.