Key Facts: Costa Rica vs South Sudan Wages
- Costa Rica Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Costa Rica 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-06-01
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is 99% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,211/mo in Costa Rica versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 44.5:1 ratio. Costa Rica has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.8% compared to 12.4%.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Costa Rica | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₡1,554.55 $3.04 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₡373,092.42 $728.70 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| 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.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Costa Rica would see a 99% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Costa Rica mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Costa Rica are $146 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Costa Rica
Compare Costa Rica with...
Costa Rica vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Costa Rica vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
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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 
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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 
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Costa Rica vs Sweden 
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Costa Rica vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Costa Rica or South Sudan?
In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Costa Rica has the higher rate by 99% 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 South Sudan 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 South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 4348% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and South Sudan?
Costa Rica has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Costa Rica work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Sudan 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.