Wage Cost

Country comparison

Costa Rica vs Belgium

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

Overall Price Level: 61.30 · 2024

Data reviewed: August 2026

Belgium$80,0092025 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 77.50 · 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

$84k$72k$59k$47k$35k20152024PPP-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.

OverallBelgium +16.2
FoodCosta Rica +17.1
ClothingBelgium +9.8
HousingBelgium +43.7
HealthCosta Rica +14.2
TransportBelgium +27.7
RecreationBelgium +6.5
RestaurantsBelgium +27.2
Costa Rica 61.30Belgium 77.50
Overall
Costa Rica 61.30
Belgium 77.50
Difference Belgium +16.20
Food
Costa Rica 107.00
Belgium 89.90
Difference Costa Rica +17.10
Clothing
Costa Rica 78.40
Belgium 88.20
Difference Belgium +9.80
Housing
Costa Rica 30.50
Belgium 74.20
Difference Belgium +43.70
Health
Costa Rica 67.00
Belgium 52.80
Difference Costa Rica +14.20
Transport
Costa Rica 86.30
Belgium 114.00
Difference Belgium +27.70
Recreation
Costa Rica 79.20
Belgium 85.70
Difference Belgium +6.50
Restaurants
Costa Rica 73.80
Belgium 101.00
Difference Belgium +27.20

Key Differences

Understanding Costa Rica and Belgium

Costa Rica records an lower 2024 PPP-adjusted annual wage than Belgium, 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

Belgium shows the higher PPP-adjusted annual wage: $35,578 (80.1%) more than Costa Rica. Over the latest reported year, both economies recorded positive one-year wage changes (+0.00% and +1.77%). The widest price category gap is Housing at 43.7 index points, and both overall price levels sit below the U.S. benchmark of 100 in 2024. Wages are reported for 2024 (Costa Rica) and 2025 (Belgium), while prices cover 2024; the two datasets are labelled separately.

Price Profile

Both overall price indices remain below the United States benchmark. Belgium is marginally higher overall, while the largest category difference appears in Housing, where Belgium exceeds Costa Rica by 43.7 index points. Each value remains relative to the United States = 100 benchmark.

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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