Key Facts: Costa Rica vs Yemen Wages
- Costa Rica Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Costa Rica 
Yemen
Updated 2026-06-01
The minimum wage in Costa Rica is roughly 29 times lower than in Yemen 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 $356/mo in Yemen, a 3.4:1 ratio. Costa Rica has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.8% compared to 17.3%.
Costa Rica's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Costa Rica | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₡1,554.55 $3.04 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₡373,092.42 $728.70 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| 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.
- Yemen
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 48 hours/week. Thursday–Friday is the traditional weekend. Normal labour law enforcement has effectively ceased. Informal employment — petty trade, agriculture, and subsistence activities — dominates the economy.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Costa Rica earns 2800% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen 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 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 
Costa Rica vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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Costa Rica vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Costa Rica or Yemen?
In Costa Rica, the minimum wage is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 2800% 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 Yemen?
The average gross salary in Costa Rica is ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Costa Rica earn approximately 240% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Costa Rica and Yemen 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 Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Costa Rica and Yemen?
Both Costa Rica and Yemen 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.