Wage Cost

Country comparison

Mexico 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
Mexico$24,4632025 · PPP-adjusted annual wage

Overall Price Level: 50.90 · 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

$49k$41k$34k$26k$19k20152025PPP-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 +10.4
FoodCosta Rica +18.7
ClothingCosta Rica +6.4
HousingMexico +12.2
HealthCosta Rica +21.0
TransportCosta Rica +5.7
RecreationCosta Rica +15.9
RestaurantsCosta Rica +8.7
Mexico 50.90Costa Rica 61.30
Overall
Mexico 50.90
Costa Rica 61.30
Difference Costa Rica +10.40
Food
Mexico 88.30
Costa Rica 107.00
Difference Costa Rica +18.70
Clothing
Mexico 72.00
Costa Rica 78.40
Difference Costa Rica +6.40
Housing
Mexico 42.70
Costa Rica 30.50
Difference Mexico +12.20
Health
Mexico 46.00
Costa Rica 67.00
Difference Costa Rica +21.00
Transport
Mexico 80.60
Costa Rica 86.30
Difference Costa Rica +5.70
Recreation
Mexico 63.30
Costa Rica 79.20
Difference Costa Rica +15.90
Restaurants
Mexico 65.10
Costa Rica 73.80
Difference Costa Rica +8.70

Key Differences

Understanding Mexico and Costa Rica

Mexico records an lower 2025 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: $19,968 (81.6%) more than Mexico. Over the latest reported year, both economies recorded positive one-year wage changes (+1.34% and +0.00%). The widest price category gap is Health at 21.0 index points, and both overall price levels sit below the U.S. benchmark of 100 in 2024. Wages are reported for 2025 (Mexico) and 2024 (Costa Rica), 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 Mexico by 21.0 index points. Each value remains relative to the United States = 100 benchmark.

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Data Notes

Wage data: 2025 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