Key Facts: Thailand vs Cuba Wages
- Thailand Minimum Wage
- ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Thailand 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Thailand is roughly 10807 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $482/mo in Thailand versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 29.7:1 ratio.
Thailand's unemployment rate is 0.8% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Thailand | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | ฿400 $12.29 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ฿10,400 $319.46 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ฿124,800 $3,833.51 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ฿15,700 /mo $482.26 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ฿14,915 /mo $458.15 | $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 Thailand is higher.
Work Week
- Thailand
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Protection Act sets maximum 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week for general work (42 hours for hazardous work). Overtime at 1.5x base rate. Holiday work at 1x additional. Holiday overtime at 3x. Employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 overtime hours per 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Thailand would see a 1080579% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Thailand mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Thailand are $15,334 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Thailand
Compare Thailand with...
Thailand vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Thailand vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Thailand vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Thailand vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Thailand vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Thailand vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Thailand vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Thailand vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Thailand vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Thailand vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Thailand vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Thailand vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Thailand vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Thailand vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Thailand vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Thailand vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Thailand vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Thailand vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Thailand vs Switzerland 
Thailand vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Thailand vs Sweden 
Thailand vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Thailand vs Singapore 
Thailand vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Thailand or Cuba?
In Thailand, the minimum wage is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 1080579% 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 Thailand compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Thailand is ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Thailand earn approximately 2874% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Thailand and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Thailand earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Thailand and Cuba?
Thailand has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Thailand 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.