Key Facts: Turkey vs Cuba Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Turkey 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkey is roughly 122 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: $555/mo in Turkey versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 34.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 8.5%.
Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.59 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $719.70 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 | $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 Turkey is higher.
Work Week
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
- 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 Turkey would see a 12058% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkey are $162 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Turkey
Compare Turkey with...
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Turkey vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Turkey vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Turkey vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Turkey vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Turkey vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Turkey vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Turkey vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Turkey vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Turkey vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Turkey vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Turkey vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Turkey vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Turkey vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Turkey vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Turkey vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Turkey vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Turkey vs Switzerland 
Turkey vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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Turkey vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Cuba?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Turkey has the higher rate by 12058% 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 Turkey compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 3324% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and Cuba?
Turkey has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Turkey 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.