Key Facts: Switzerland vs Cuba Wages
- Switzerland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Switzerland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CHF7,800 /mo ($9,951.52 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BFS) (2026-02-24), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Switzerland
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
Switzerland has no statutory minimum wage, while Cuba sets a floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $9,952/mo in Switzerland versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 613.6:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.9%.
Switzerland's unemployment rate is 4.9% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Switzerland | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CHF7,800 /mo $9,951.52 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CHF6,396 /mo $8,160.24 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | CHF81,456 /yr $103,924.47 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Switzerland is higher.
Work Week
- Switzerland
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
No single statutory standard; typical contractual hours are 40-42/week depending on sector. Maximum legal hours: 45/week for industrial, office, and retail workers; 50/week for others. Overtime premium is 25% (can be compensated with time off by agreement). Swiss Labour Act (Arbeitsgesetz) governs working time.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Switzerland mandates 42 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Switzerland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Switzerland or Cuba?
In Switzerland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Switzerland compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Switzerland is CHF7,800/mo ($9,951.52 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Switzerland earn approximately 61264% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Switzerland and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Switzerland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Switzerland and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 42 hours in Switzerland. Workers in Switzerland work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Switzerland 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.