Key Facts: Yemen vs Costa Rica Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Costa Rica Minimum Wage
- ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Costa Rica Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₡620,000 /mo ($1,210.94 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Costa Rica (2026-06-01)
Yemen 
Costa Rica
Updated 2026-06-01
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 29 times higher than in Costa Rica in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $1,211/mo in Costa Rica, a 3.4:1 ratio. Costa Rica has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.8% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Costa Rica's 6.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₡1,554.55 $3.04 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ₡373,092.42 $728.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₡4,850,201.46 $9,473.05 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ₡620,000 /mo $1,210.94 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | ₡508,400 /mo $992.97 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₡4,680,000 /yr $9,140.63 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Yemen is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Costa Rica to Yemen would see a 2800% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Costa Rica's perspective: Costa Rica vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Yemen vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Yemen vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Yemen vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Yemen vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Yemen vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Yemen vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Yemen vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Yemen vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Yemen vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Yemen vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Yemen vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Yemen vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Yemen vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Yemen vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Yemen vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Yemen vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Yemen vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Yemen vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Yemen vs Switzerland 
Yemen vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Yemen vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Yemen vs Sweden 
Yemen vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Yemen vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Costa Rica?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Costa Rica, it is ₡1,554.55/hr ($3.04 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 less does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to Costa Rica?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ₡620,000/mo ($1,210.94 USD) in Costa Rica. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 240% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Costa Rica 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 Yemen and Costa Rica?
Both Yemen and Costa Rica 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.