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Key Facts: Costa Rica vs Sudan Wages

Costa Rica Minimum Wage
₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
Sudan Minimum Wage
ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD)
Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ج.س.85,000 /mo ($140.50 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Sudan Labour Code (2026-02-25)

Costa Rica flag Costa Rica Sudan flag Sudan

Updated 2026-06-01

Costa Rica flag Costa Rica

Minimum Wage

₡1,554.55 /hr

$3.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₡620,000 /mo

Sudan flag Sudan

Minimum Wage

ج.س.30,000 /mo

$49.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ج.س.85,000 /mo

Min wage: -94% Costa Rica vs Sudan Avg. salary: +762% Costa Rica vs Sudan

The minimum wage in Costa Rica is roughly 16 times lower than in Sudan 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 $140/mo in Sudan, a 8.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Costa Rica is 14.7x that of Sudan, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Costa Rica has higher GDP per capita ($31,107 vs $2,116). Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Sudan's 7.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Costa Rica and Sudan
Metric Costa Rica Sudan
Minimum wage /hr ₡1,554.55 $3.04
Minimum wage /mo ₡373,092.42 $728.70 ج.س.30,000 $49.59
Minimum wage /yr ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05
Avg. gross salary /mo ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 ج.س.85,000 /mo $140.50
Avg. net salary /mo ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 N/A/mo
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.

Sudan

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act of 2017 sets standard hours at 8 per day / 40 per week. Maximum with overtime is 48 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (Islamic calendar). These provisions apply to formal employment only and enforcement has been severely disrupted by the 2023 conflict.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Costa Rica earns 1533% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Costa Rica mandates 48 hours while Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Costa Rica are $146 vs $1,983 in Sudan.

See this comparison from Sudan's perspective: Sudan vs Costa Rica

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Costa Rica or Sudan?

In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In Sudan, it is ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD). Sudan has the higher rate by 1533% 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 Sudan?

The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to ج.س.85,000/mo ($140.50 USD) in Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 762% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and 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 Sudan.

How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and Sudan?

Costa Rica has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sudan. Workers in Costa Rica work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in 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.

What is the cost of living difference between Costa Rica and Sudan?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Costa Rica has the higher GDP per capita at $31,107, which is 14.7x that of Sudan at $2,116. From Costa Rica's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.