🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Aguilares versus $1,628 in Ilopango.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,052 in Aguilares versus $1,859 in Ilopango.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,443 in Aguilares versus $2,090 in Ilopango.
🙂Living in Aguilares costs roughly 59% less than in Ilopango, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aguilares is 51% below, Ilopango is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.45$2.45
$3.14$3.14
-21.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.03$12.03
$45.76$45.76
-73.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.04$7.04
$5.11$5.11
37.77%
Cappuccino
$3.35$3.35
$2.89$2.89
15.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94$0.94
$0.92$0.92
2.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48$0.48
$0.93$0.93
-48.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48$1.48
$0.96$0.96
54.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$1.73$1.73
40.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81$1.81
$3.27$3.27
-44.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05$2.05
$1.46$1.46
40.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49$1.49
$2.97$2.97
-49.83%
Eggs
$1.82$1.82
$2.94$2.94
-38.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87$6.87
$4.87$4.87
41.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$6.18$6.18
-26.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.73$10.73
$9.81$9.81
9.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$3.04$3.04
3.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73$1.73
$1.97$1.97
-12.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14$2.14
$1.98$1.98
8.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$1.98$1.98
38.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$2.04$2.04
9.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$1.97$1.97
10.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99$0.99
$0.97$0.97
2.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04$1.04
$0.98$0.98
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97$3.97
$3.91$3.91
1.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.12$11.12
$11.85$11.85
-6.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51$1.51
$0.98$0.98
54.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43$2.43
$1.97$1.97
23.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49$0.49
$0.56$0.56
-12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.2$64.2
$35.43$35.43
81.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48$5.48
$6.86$6.86
-20.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96$2.96
$2.25$2.25
31.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97$19.97
$4.87$4.87
310.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$0.67$0.67
55.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K$17.9K
$20.1K$20.1K
-10.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K$20.5K
$25.4K$25.4K
-19.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.38$28.38
$35.57$35.57
-20.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.80$18.80
$10.10$10.10
86.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.76$34.76
$40.39$40.39
-13.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.03$20.03
$40.10$40.10
-50.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25$20.25
$10.04$10.04
101.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.51$3.51
$4.90$4.90
-28.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$146$146
$106$106
37.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,878$5,878
$1,950$1,950
201.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.36$25.36
$20.30$20.30
24.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.74$27.74
$30.27$30.27
-8.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116$116
$73.7$73.7
56.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104$104
$58.9$58.9
75.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$74.3$74.3
$663$663
-88.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,010$1,010
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$593$593
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$621$621
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,698$1,698
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$963$963
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguilares
Ilopango
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$999$999
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.58
6
43.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguilares: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ilopango: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.3 in Aguilares and $663 in Ilopango. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Aguilares vs $46.00 in Ilopango for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $249 per month, with Aguilares cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aguilares vs Ilopango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aguilares or Ilopango?
Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 146% lower than in Ilopango. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aguilares vs Ilopango?
You'd need roughly $992 in Aguilares and $2,442 in Ilopango to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Aguilares vs Ilopango?
Rent for a central apartment: $74.3 in Aguilares versus $663 in Ilopango. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Aguilares compared to Ilopango?
All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Aguilares versus $1,628 in Ilopango – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Aguilares vs Ilopango?
A monthly transit pass in Aguilares runs roughly 81% less than in Ilopango. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Aguilares or Ilopango?
At $661 in Aguilares versus $1,628 in Ilopango, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Aguilares or Ilopango?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.