Serbia North Korea

Updated 2026-02-25

Serbia

Minimum Wage

RSD271 /hr

$2.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

RSD110,000 /mo

North Korea

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

₩100,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +821% Serbia vs North Korea

Unlike North Korea, which has no statutory minimum wage, Serbia mandates a wage floor of $3/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,023/mo in Serbia versus $111/mo in North Korea, a 9.2:1 ratio. North Korea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 7.1%.

Serbia's unemployment rate is 7.1% compared to North Korea's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Serbia and North Korea
Metric	Serbia	North Korea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	RSD271 $2.52	None	—
Minimum wage /day	RSD2,168 $20.17	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	RSD47,000 $437.21	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	RSD564,000 $5,246.51	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	RSD110,000 /mo $1,023.26	₩100,000 /mo $111.11	+820.9%
Avg. net salary /mo	RSD80,000 /mo $744.19	₩90,000 /mo $100	+644.2%
Median individual income /yr	RSD600,000 /yr $5,581.40	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Serbia: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.26x pay

Labour Law sets full-time working hours at 40/week. Overtime: minimum 26% surcharge. Night work (22:00-06:00): minimum 26% surcharge. Holiday work: minimum 110% surcharge. Maximum overtime is 8 hours/week. Reduced working hours (36 or fewer) for hazardous occupations.
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: Serbia mandates 40 hours while North Korea mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Serbia with...

Serbia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr

Serbia vs China ¥ 25 /hr

Serbia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr

Serbia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr

Serbia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo

Serbia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr

Serbia vs France € 12.02 /hr

Serbia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr

Serbia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr

Serbia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr

Serbia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr

Serbia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr

Serbia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo

Serbia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr

Serbia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr

Serbia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr

Serbia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr

Serbia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr

Serbia vs Switzerland

Serbia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr

Serbia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo

Serbia vs Sweden

Serbia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr

Serbia vs Singapore

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Serbia or North Korea?

In Serbia, the minimum wage is RSD271/hr ($2.52 USD). In North Korea, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Serbia is RSD110,000/mo ($1,023.26 USD), compared to ₩100,000/mo ($111.11 USD) in North Korea. In USD terms, workers in Serbia earn approximately 821% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Serbia and North Korea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Serbia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in North Korea.

How do work hours compare between Serbia and North Korea?

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