Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Cuba Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Timor-Leste 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 3890 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: $350/mo in Timor-Leste versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 21.6:1 ratio.
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Timor-Leste is higher.
Work Week
- Timor-Leste
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Timor-Leste Labour Code sets a standard workweek of 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays and Sundays is at 2x.
- 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 Timor-Leste would see a 388926% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Timor-Leste vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Switzerland 
Timor-Leste vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Timor-Leste vs Sweden 
Timor-Leste vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Timor-Leste vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Cuba?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 388926% 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 Timor-Leste compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 2058% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Timor-Leste earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Timor-Leste and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Timor-Leste. Workers in Timor-Leste work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Timor-Leste 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.