Latest Wage Comparison
In 2023, the latest year for which every reporting economy has a figure, 38 of the 38 OECD economies have a PPP-adjusted average wage. Iceland sits at the top of the range at $97,144 and Mexico at the bottom at $23,149, putting the highest figure 319.6% above the lowest. The median across the group is $58,465, with 19 economies above it. Every value is PPP-adjusted and in constant prices, so this spread reflects differences in purchasing power rather than currency movements.
Long-Term Wage Direction
Over ten years 33 of the 38 economies with data hold a higher real average wage than they did, and 5 a lower one; the median change is +8.3%. Türkiye moved furthest at +96.2%, against −6.1% for Chile. Over the shorter five-year window 29 of 38 are up, with a median change of +3.2%. 20 of 38 sit at their historical peak in their latest reported year. Greece is furthest from its own high, 26.6% below its 2009 maximum. Every change here is measured in real PPP-adjusted terms, so it describes movement in purchasing power rather than nominal pay growth.
Consumer Price Differences
For 2024, overall consumer price levels are measured against United States = 100. Of the 38 economies reporting, 2 sit above that benchmark and 36 below it. Switzerland is the most expensive at 119, and Türkiye the least at 32. Across the eight categories the widest spread is in Housing & energy, running from 16.8 to 119, while Clothing & footwear varies least between economies. These are relative price levels rather than household spending: they show how prices compare, not what anyone actually pays.
