Costa Rica North Korea

Updated 2026-06-01

Costa Rica

Minimum Wage

₡1,554.55 /hr

$3.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₡620,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +990% Costa Rica vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Costa Rica mandates a wage floor of $3/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,211/mo in Costa Rica versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 10.9:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.8%.

Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Costa Rica and North Korea
Metric	Costa Rica	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₡1,554.55 $3.04	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	₡373,092.42 $728.70	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+989.8%
Avg. net salary /mo	₡508,400 /mo $992.97	₩90,000 /mo $100	+893.0%
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.
North Korea: 48 hrs/wk standard

The North Korean Labour Law formally sets an 8-hour working day. In practice, many workers are required to spend additional hours in compulsory political study, military training, and 'volunteer' labour campaigns. The actual workweek for state employees varies widely by sector and location. No independent verification of labour conditions is possible.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea 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 North Korea?

In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Costa Rica compared to North Korea?

The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 990% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and North Korea 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 North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and North Korea?

Both Costa Rica and North Korea mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.