Software Engineer: Costa Rica vs Japan
Side-by-side salary comparison · Estimated based on OECD & BLS data
🇯🇵 Japan pays 116% more
Costa Rica
CRC
Estimated Salary (USD)
$28,578
per year
Local Currency (CRC)
₡14,860,560
per year
PPP Adjusted
$157,613
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
5,234
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Bottom 14%
Japan
JPY
Estimated Salary (USD)
$61,655
per year
Local Currency (JPY)
¥9,186,595
per year
PPP Adjusted
$138,619
purchasing power
Big Mac Power
20,416
burgers / year
Global Percentile
Bottom 48%
Visual Comparison
Salary (USD)
PPP Adjusted (USD)
Big Mac Power (burgers/year)
Key Takeaways
- ●
Software Engineers in Japan earn 116% more than in Costa Rica (nominal USD).
- ●
After adjusting for purchasing power (PPP), Costa Rica still leads by 14%.
- ●
Using the Big Mac Index, a Software Engineer's salary buys 3.9x more Big Macs in Japan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays Software Engineers more: Costa Rica or Japan?▾
Japan pays Software Engineers an estimated $61,655 USD per year, which is 116% more than Costa Rica's estimated $28,578 USD.
What is the PPP-adjusted salary for a Software Engineer in Costa Rica vs Japan?▾
The PPP-adjusted salary is $157,613 USD in Costa Rica and $138,619 USD in Japan. PPP adjustment accounts for cost of living differences between the two countries.
How does the purchasing power compare for Software Engineers?▾
Using the Big Mac Index, a Software Engineer in Costa Rica can buy about 5,234 Big Macs per year, while in Japan it's about 20,416 Big Macs.
Estimated based on OECD & BLS data. Actual salaries vary by experience, company, and region. Data is for informational purposes only.
Sources: BLS OEWS · OECD · World Bank · Big Mac Index