Wage Cost

Country comparison

Costa Rica vs Colombia

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

Colombia$30,1332024 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 32.60 · 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
Costa Rica 61.30Colombia 32.60
Overall
Costa Rica 61.30
Colombia 32.60
Difference Costa Rica +28.70
Food
Costa Rica 107.00
Colombia 65.40
Difference Costa Rica +41.60
Clothing
Costa Rica 78.40
Colombia 60.40
Difference Costa Rica +18.00
Housing
Costa Rica 30.50
Colombia 26.60
Difference Costa Rica +3.90
Health
Costa Rica 67.00
Colombia 18.60
Difference Costa Rica +48.40
Transport
Costa Rica 86.30
Colombia 49.80
Difference Costa Rica +36.50
Recreation
Costa Rica 79.20
Colombia 47.80
Difference Costa Rica +31.40
Restaurants
Costa Rica 73.80
Colombia 40.50
Difference Costa Rica +33.30

Key Differences

Understanding Costa Rica and Colombia

Costa Rica records a higher 2024 PPP-adjusted annual wage than Colombia, 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 (+0.00% and +1.88%). 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.

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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