Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Costa Rica instead of West Virginia, you would:

Health

live 6.8 years longer

In West Virginia, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020. In Costa Rica, that number is 80 years (77 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 44.9% less money

West Virginia has a GDP per capita of $46,834 as of 2024, while in Costa Rica, the GDP per capita is $25,800 as of 2023.

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be 88.6% more likely to be unemployed

In West Virginia, 4.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Costa Rica, that number is 8.3% as of 2023.

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be 56.4% more likely to live below the poverty line

In West Virginia, 16.3% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Costa Rica, however, that number is 25.5% as of 2022.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: West Virginia vs. Costa Rica

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Costa Rica is 6.2% cheaper than West Virginia
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Size Comparison · See true size
West Virginia is about 1.2 times bigger than Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica: At a glance

Costa Rica is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 51,060 sq km. Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. In 1949, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.
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How big is Costa Rica compared to West Virginia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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