Key Facts: Costa Rica Wages
- Country
- Costa Rica (CRI)
- Continent
- North America
- Currency
- Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
- Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55 /hr ($3.04 USD)
- Average Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /month
- Average Gross Annual Salary
- ₡8,060,000 /year
- Median Individual Income
- ₡4,680,000 /year
- Standard Work Week
- 48 hours
- Data Source
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01
Costa Rica — Average Salary & Wages
Costa Rican Colón (CRC) Data verified Jun 2026 Sources
The average salary in Costa Rica is
₡8,060,000 a year
But half of all workers earn less than ₡4,680,000 .
The average is lifted by bonuses and high earners. Most workers earn less than that.
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD) as of 2026. The average gross monthly salary is ₡620,000 ($1,210.94 USD). The median monthly income is ₡390,000 ($761.72 USD).
Median monthly individual income approximately CRC 390,000. Significant informal sector (around 40% of employment) depresses median figures. High inequality between urban San Jose metro area and rural regions.
Average monthly income for formal sector workers. Annual includes aguinaldo. Net estimated after social security contributions (CCSS: 10.67% employee share including health insurance SEM 5.5%, disability/pension IVM 4.17%, supplementary pension 1%), and income tax (progressive 0-25%, with most average earners paying ~5-10% effective rate). Total deductions approximately 18% for average earners.
• SECTOR RATES
Semi-skilled (semicalificado)
₡390,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Minimum for semi-skilled workers (2024 schedule; pending 2026 refresh)
Skilled (calificado)
₡407,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Minimum for skilled workers (2024 schedule; pending 2026 refresh)
Specialized technician (técnico especializado)
₡434,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Minimum for specialized technicians (2024 schedule; pending 2026 refresh)
University graduate (licenciado)
₡538,000 /mo
Since 2024-01-01
Minimum for workers with a university degree (licenciatura) (2024 schedule; pending 2026 refresh)
Minimum Wage Trend
Since 2019, the minimum wage has grown +23% in nominal terms.
• PPP ADJUSTED
In Costa Rica, the minimum wage has the purchasing power of $5.05/hr in the United States, adjusted for local cost of living using the World Bank PPP conversion factor.
In Context
At minimum wage, a full-time worker in Costa Rica earns ₡373,092.42/mo. That is 60% of the average gross salary.
- Monthly (full-time)
- ₡373,092.42 at min. wage
- Share of avg. salary
- 60% gross, before tax
- USD equivalent
- $728.70/mo monthly
- Nominal growth
- +23% since 2019
Wage Breakdown
- Hourly
- ₡1,554.55
- Monthly
- ₡373,092.42
- Annual
- ₡4,850,201.4613 monthly payments (aguinaldo — mandatory Christmas bonus equal to one month's salary)
The top-level amount reflects the minimum for 'trabajadores no calificados' (unskilled workers), the lowest category, set at CRC 373,092.42/mo for 2026 by Decreto Ejecutivo 45303-MTSS (Consejo Nacional de Salarios, +1.63%, effective 1 January 2026). The Consejo Nacional de Salarios sets minimums across multiple skill categories: unskilled (CRC 373,092.42/mo, 2026), semi-skilled (CRC 390,000/mo), skilled (CRC 407,000/mo), technician (CRC 434,000/mo), and university-educated categories can exceed CRC 500,000+/mo. The aguinaldo (13th salary) is mandatory. Note: the higher skill-category figures below reflect the 2024 schedule and are pending a full refresh against the 2026 Decreto 45303-MTSS table.
Work Week
- Standard
- 48 hrs/wk
- Maximum
- 48 hrs/wk
- Overtime
- 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary workday at 8 hours (daytime) and 6 hours (nighttime), with 48-hour weekly maximum for day shifts and 36 hours for night shifts. Mixed shifts max at 7 hours/day (42/week). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate (50% premium). In practice, many formal sector jobs work 40-45 hours.
How Costa Rica Compares
| Metric | Costa Rica | North America Avg. | North America Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. wage (USD equiv.) | $3.04/hr | $5.82/hr | $17.13/hr (Bermuda) |
| Avg. salary (USD equiv.) | $1,210.94/mo | $1,569.85/mo | $6,228/mo (United States) |
Countries with Similar Minimum Wages
| Country | Min. Wage /hr (USD) |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | $3.04 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $3.03 |
| Seychelles | $2.94 |
| Chile | $3.26 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | $3.33 |
| Costa Rica | $3.04 |
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Wages tell half the story. See purchasing power, prices, and quality-of-life context for Costa Rica on our sister site.
Cost of living in Costa Rica on costofliving.is →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Costa Rica?
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is ₡1,554.55/hr (approximately $3.04 USD), effective since 2026-01-01. The top-level amount reflects the minimum for 'trabajadores no calificados' (unskilled workers), the lowest category, set at CRC 373,092.42/mo for 2026 by Decreto Ejecutivo 45303-MTSS (Consejo Nacional de Salarios, +1.63%, effective 1 January 2026). The Consejo Nacional de Salarios sets minimums across multiple skill categories: unskilled (CRC 373,092.42/mo, 2026), semi-skilled (CRC 390,000/mo), skilled (CRC 407,000/mo), technician (CRC 434,000/mo), and university-educated categories can exceed CRC 500,000+/mo. The aguinaldo (13th salary) is mandatory. Note: the higher skill-category figures below reflect the 2024 schedule and are pending a full refresh against the 2026 Decreto 45303-MTSS table.
What is the average salary in Costa Rica?
The average gross monthly salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000 (approximately $1,210.94 USD). Average monthly income for formal sector workers. Annual includes aguinaldo. Net estimated after social security contributions (CCSS: 10.67% employee share including health insurance SEM 5.5%, disability/pension IVM 4.17%, supplementary pension 1%), and income tax (progressive 0-25%, with most average earners paying ~5-10% effective rate). Total deductions approximately 18% for average earners. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) — Encuesta Continua de Empleo (2024).
How many hours is the standard work week in Costa Rica?
The standard work week in Costa Rica is 48 hours, with a legal maximum of 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Labour Code sets maximum ordinary workday at 8 hours (daytime) and 6 hours (nighttime), with 48-hour weekly maximum for day shifts and 36 hours for night shifts. Mixed shifts max at 7 hours/day (42/week). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate (50% premium). In practice, many formal sector jobs work 40-45 hours.
How has the minimum wage in Costa Rica changed over time?
The minimum wage in Costa Rica has changed as follows: ₡302,572 in 2019, ₡316,955 in 2020, ₡323,000 in 2021, ₡337,000 in 2022, ₡349,000 in 2023, ₡362,000 in 2024, ₡373,092.42 in 2026. This represents 7 recorded adjustments.
What is the minimum wage in Costa Rica in USD?
The minimum wage in Costa Rica converts to approximately $3.04/hr in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
What is the average salary in Costa Rica in USD?
The average gross monthly salary in Costa Rica is approximately $1,210.94 per month in US dollars, based on current exchange rates. Actual purchasing power may differ due to local cost of living.
How does Costa Rica's minimum wage compare to the North America average?
Costa Rica's minimum wage ranks #19 out of 32 countries with statutory minimum wages in North America, placing it near the median for North America.
From Insights
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