Costa Rica
Data verified August 2026 · Sources
Costa Rica's $44,431 PPP-adjusted wage for 2024 holds 4.2% under its 2020 peak after a +21.9% decade, with the latest year flat at 0.0% and prices at 61.3.
Costa Rica at a Glance
1Y Change
0.0%
5Y Change
+4.9%
10Y Change
+21.9%
Historical Peak
$46,398 2020
Change From Peak
−4.2%
Overall Price Level
61.3
Costa Rica’s Wage Story
Follow how PPP-adjusted average annual wages have changed in Costa Rica using constant-price OECD data.
USD PPP, constant prices · missing years shown as gaps, never interpolated
Ten Years Ago
$36,459 (2014)
Historical Peak
$46,398 2020
Latest Wage
$44,431 2024
Data Coverage
Wage history: 1991–2024
Reported observations: 34
Missing wage years: None
Latest price data: 2024 · 8 of 8 categories available
A Pause After a Strong Decade
Costa Rican wages moved +21.9% over ten years, +4.9% across five, and 0.0% in the latest year. At $44,431 for 2024 the level is 4.2% below the 2020 peak of $46,398, and the flat latest-year reading makes the profile one of pause rather than directional movement. The 2014 base of $36,459 shows the decade's climb was substantial before the pause began. The decade direction and the latest year point nowhere together, which is exactly what makes this profile a pause rather than a turn.
Divergence Beneath a Flat Year
Wage opportunities in Costa Rica differ markedly by sector, skill and formality status, which means a 0.0% latest-year change at the national average blends divergent trends across the workforce. The +21.9% decade gain confirms the longer convergence direction, but the flat latest year and the 4.2% gap to the 2020 high suggest the level is searching for direction. A single flat year settles nothing in either direction.
A Wide Price Gap
Costa Rica's overall price level for 2024 registers 61.3, some 38.7 index points below the US reference. The reading is a position on a comparative index, not a colon amount, and it accompanies the flat-year wage profile as a separate strand of evidence. Costa Rica's wage series begins in 1991 with 34 observations and a latest year of 2024.
Costa Rica’s Everyday Price Profile
Compare eight consumer price categories in Costa Rica with the United States reference value of 100.
Overall
Food
Clothing
Housing
Health
Transport
Recreation
Restaurants & Accommodation
What Stands Out
Highest: Food
Food has the highest relative price level of the 8 reported categories in 2024, at 107 against the United States reference of 100. That is +7.0 index points from the benchmark and 20.7 points ahead of the next category, Transport at 86.3.
Lowest: Housing
Housing is the lowest of the reported categories in 2024 at 30.5, −69.5 index points against the United States benchmark of 100. The spread between the highest and lowest reported categories is 76.5 index points, which shows how uneven the 2024 price profile is across categories.
Overall vs United States
The overall price level for 2024 is 61.3, below the United States benchmark (−38.7 index points). Looking across the profile, of the 8 reported categories, 1 reads above 100 and 7 below it, so the overall figure summarizes a spread of category positions rather than a uniform level.
Compare Costa Rica
Choose another OECD economy to compare wages, historical changes and all eight consumer price categories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica
What is the average annual wage in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's 2024 average wage is $44,431. The level sits below its 2020 peak.
How has the average wage changed in Costa Rica?
The decade change is +21.9%, with +4.9% over five years and 0.0% in the latest year. The flat latest reading reflects a pause rather than directional movement. Each horizon uses its exact target year.
What are consumer price levels like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica's overall consumer price index is 61.3 for 2024, below the US at 100. That is a relative index standing, not a dollar amount or inflation rate.
How far is Costa Rica's wage from its peak?
Costa Rica's 2024 wage of $44,431 is 4.2% below the 2020 high of $46,398. The flat 0.0% latest-year change means the level is pausing rather than recovering or declining.