Key Facts: Costa Rica vs Eritrea Wages
- Costa Rica Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Costa Rica 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-06-01
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is roughly 13 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,211/mo in Costa Rica versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 3.0:1 ratio.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Costa Rica | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₡1,554.55 $3.04 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₡373,092.42 $728.70 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₡4,680,000 /yr $9,140.63 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Costa Rica is higher.
Work Week
- Costa Rica
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 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.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Costa Rica earns 1217% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Costa Rica mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Costa Rica are $146 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Costa Rica
Compare Costa Rica with...
Costa Rica vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Costa Rica vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Costa Rica vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Costa Rica vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Costa Rica vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Costa Rica vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Costa Rica vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Costa Rica vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Switzerland 
Costa Rica vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Costa Rica vs Sweden 
Costa Rica vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Costa Rica vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Costa Rica or Eritrea?
In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1217% 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 Costa Rica may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Costa Rica compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 203% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Costa Rica earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and Eritrea?
Costa Rica has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Costa Rica work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.