Montenegro North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Montenegro

Minimum Wage

€3.87 /hr

$4.51 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€1,200 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +1158% Montenegro vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Montenegro mandates a wage floor of $5/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,397/mo in Montenegro versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 12.6:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 13.6%.

Montenegro's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Montenegro and North Korea
Metric	Montenegro	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	€3.87 $4.51	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	€670 $780.25	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	€8,040 $9,362.99	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	€1,200 /mo $1,397.46	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+1157.7%
Avg. net salary /mo	€1,012 /mo $1,178.53	₩90,000 /mo $100	+1078.5%
Median individual income /yr	€8,400 /yr $9,782.23	N/A/yr	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Montenegro is higher.

Work Week

Montenegro: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Labour Law sets standard workweek at 40 hours. Overtime limited to 10 hours per week. Overtime premium at least 40%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 40%. Work on rest days premium at least 150%. Holiday work premium at least 150%. EU Working Time Directive limits apply as Montenegro aligns with EU acquis.
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.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Montenegro mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from North Korea's perspective: North Korea vs Montenegro

Compare Montenegro with...

Montenegro vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Montenegro vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Montenegro vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Montenegro vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Montenegro vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Montenegro vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Montenegro vs France € 12.02 /hr

Montenegro vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Montenegro vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Montenegro vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Montenegro vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Montenegro vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Montenegro vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Montenegro vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Montenegro vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Montenegro vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Montenegro vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Montenegro vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Montenegro vs Switzerland

Montenegro vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Montenegro vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Montenegro vs Sweden

Montenegro vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Montenegro vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Montenegro or North Korea?

In Montenegro, the minimum wage is €3.87/hr ($4.51 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Montenegro is €1,200/mo ($1,397.46 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Montenegro earn approximately 1158% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Montenegro and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Montenegro earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Montenegro and North Korea?

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