Wage Cost

Country comparison

Colombia vs Costa Rica

Compare average wages, historical trends and everyday price levels across two economies. A common wage-year frame and a visible United States = 100 price benchmark keep the view comparable.

All Countries
Colombia$30,1332024 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 32.60 · 2024

Data reviewed: August 2026

Costa Rica$44,4312024 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 61.30 · 2024

Data reviewed: August 2026

Compare average wages, historical trends and everyday price levels across two economies. A common wage-year frame and a visible United States = 100 price benchmark keep the view comparable.

Wage trend comparison

How Wages Have Changed

$48k$43k$38k$32k$27k20152024PPP-adjusted annual wage (USD)

USD PPP, constant 2025 prices · click a legend name to hide it; at least one line remains.

Price Level Comparison

Compare Everyday Price Levels

Compare eight consumer price categories using the United States benchmark of 100.

OverallCosta Rica +28.7
FoodCosta Rica +41.6
ClothingCosta Rica +18.0
HousingCosta Rica +3.9
HealthCosta Rica +48.4
TransportCosta Rica +36.5
RecreationCosta Rica +31.4
RestaurantsCosta Rica +33.3
Colombia 32.60Costa Rica 61.30
Overall
Colombia 32.60
Costa Rica 61.30
Difference Costa Rica +28.70
Food
Colombia 65.40
Costa Rica 107.00
Difference Costa Rica +41.60
Clothing
Colombia 60.40
Costa Rica 78.40
Difference Costa Rica +18.00
Housing
Colombia 26.60
Costa Rica 30.50
Difference Costa Rica +3.90
Health
Colombia 18.60
Costa Rica 67.00
Difference Costa Rica +48.40
Transport
Colombia 49.80
Costa Rica 86.30
Difference Costa Rica +36.50
Recreation
Colombia 47.80
Costa Rica 79.20
Difference Costa Rica +31.40
Restaurants
Colombia 40.50
Costa Rica 73.80
Difference Costa Rica +33.30

Key Differences

Understanding Colombia and Costa Rica

Colombia records an lower 2024 PPP-adjusted annual wage than Costa Rica, while both countries have overall price levels below the U.S. benchmark in 2024. The page keeps the arithmetic difference visible but does not turn it into a causal explanation or a living-standard judgement.

Wage Comparison

Costa Rica shows the higher PPP-adjusted annual wage: $14,298 (47.4%) more than Colombia. Over the latest reported year, both economies recorded positive one-year wage changes (+1.88% and +0.00%). The widest price category gap is Health at 48.4 index points, and both overall price levels sit below the U.S. benchmark of 100 in 2024. Wages are reported for 2024, while prices cover 2024; the two datasets are labelled separately.

Price Profile

Both overall price indices remain below the United States benchmark. Costa Rica is marginally higher overall, while the largest category difference appears in Health, where Costa Rica exceeds Colombia by 48.4 index points. Each value remains relative to the United States = 100 benchmark.

Continue Comparing

Choose a new pairing

Data Notes

Wage data: 2024 common-year PPP-adjusted annual wages. Price data: 2022–2024, United States = 100. Missing values display – without zero fill, interpolation, or automatic year fallback.

Data reviewed: August 2026