Key Facts: Sri Lanka vs Cuba Wages
- Sri Lanka Minimum Wage
- Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Sri Lanka Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rs55,000 /mo ($183.95 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Labour — Sri Lanka; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-04-01) (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Sri Lanka 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Sri Lanka is roughly 15 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $184/mo in Sri Lanka versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 11.3:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.0%.
Sri Lanka's unemployment rate is 4.0% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sri Lanka | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Rs135 $0.45 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | Rs1,080 $3.61 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Rs27,000 $90.30 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Rs324,000 $1,083.61 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Rs55,000 /mo $183.95 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Rs49,500 /mo $165.55 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sri Lanka is higher.
Work Week
- Sri Lanka
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).
- 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 Sri Lanka would see a 1427% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Sri Lanka are $20 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Sri Lanka
Compare Sri Lanka with...
Sri Lanka vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Sri Lanka vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Sri Lanka vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Switzerland 
Sri Lanka vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Sri Lanka vs Sweden 
Sri Lanka vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Sri Lanka vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sri Lanka or Cuba?
In Sri Lanka, the minimum wage is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Sri Lanka has the higher rate by 1427% 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 Sri Lanka compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Sri Lanka is Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Sri Lanka earn approximately 1034% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sri Lanka and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sri Lanka earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Sri Lanka and Cuba?
Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Sri Lanka work 45 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.