Wage Cost

Country comparison

Costa Rica vs Chile

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

Chile$40,6262023 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 42.90 · 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$45k$42k$39k$36k20152024PPP-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 +18.4
FoodCosta Rica +22.2
ClothingCosta Rica +0.9
HousingCosta Rica +0.9
HealthCosta Rica +41.2
TransportCosta Rica +19.5
RecreationCosta Rica +18.5
RestaurantsCosta Rica +12.7
Costa Rica 61.30Chile 42.90
Overall
Costa Rica 61.30
Chile 42.90
Difference Costa Rica +18.40
Food
Costa Rica 107.00
Chile 84.80
Difference Costa Rica +22.20
Clothing
Costa Rica 78.40
Chile 77.50
Difference Costa Rica +0.90
Housing
Costa Rica 30.50
Chile 29.60
Difference Costa Rica +0.90
Health
Costa Rica 67.00
Chile 25.80
Difference Costa Rica +41.20
Transport
Costa Rica 86.30
Chile 66.80
Difference Costa Rica +19.50
Recreation
Costa Rica 79.20
Chile 60.70
Difference Costa Rica +18.50
Restaurants
Costa Rica 73.80
Chile 61.10
Difference Costa Rica +12.70

Key Differences

Understanding Costa Rica and Chile

Costa Rica records a higher 2024 PPP-adjusted annual wage than Chile, 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: $3,805 (9.4%) more than Chile. Over the latest reported year, both economies recorded positive one-year wage changes (+0.00% and +1.30%). The widest price category gap is Health at 41.2 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 2023 (Chile), 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 Chile by 41.2 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