Key Facts: Nicaragua vs Eritrea Wages
- Nicaragua Minimum Wage
- C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Nicaragua Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$15,000 /mo ($407.61 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo (Ministry of Labour) / National Minimum Wage Commission — Nicaragua (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Nicaragua 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Nicaragua is roughly 27 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Nicaragua at $408/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea.
Nicaragua's unemployment rate is 5.0% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nicaragua | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$55.48 $1.51 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$13,315.61 $361.84 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$15,000 /mo $407.61 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$12,000 /mo $326.09 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$72,000 /yr $1,956.52 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nicaragua is higher.
Work Week
- Nicaragua
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Night work is limited to 45 hours/week (7.5 hours/day). Mixed shifts limited to 7 hours/day. Overtime is paid at 2x the regular rate. Workers are entitled to one mandatory rest day per week. Governed by the Código del Trabajo (Labour Code).
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Nicaragua earns 2553% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Nicaragua mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nicaragua are $72 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Nicaragua
Compare Nicaragua with...
Nicaragua vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Nicaragua vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Nicaragua vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Nicaragua vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Switzerland 
Nicaragua vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Sweden 
Nicaragua vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Nicaragua or Eritrea?
In Nicaragua, the minimum wage is C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2553% 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 Nicaragua may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Nicaragua compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Nicaragua is C$15,000/mo ($407.61 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Nicaragua earn approximately 2% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nicaragua and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nicaragua earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Nicaragua and Eritrea?
Nicaragua has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Nicaragua work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.