All about cost of living man. It is also a communist country. People there are probably glad to get it too, that's the sad thing. So called "third world" countries are like that. I saw it all through out Central and South America in my 16 month venture there. I had a maid for $30 a month and that's only because she was on post, off post probably would have been like $10. It's bad but that's how it is down there.