Cost of Living Comparison Between Aguilares and Santa Tecla Cost of Living Comparison Between Aguilares and Santa Tecla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $819 in Aguilares versus $1,396 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Aguilares versus $2,025 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,781 in Aguilares versus $2,655 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Aguilares costs roughly 41% less than in Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Aguilares is 39% below, Santa Tecla is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 $6.85

$6.92 $6.92

-1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.26 $43.26

$43.04 $43.04

0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 $7.13

$6.90 $6.90

3.33%

Cappuccino

$3.61 $3.61

$3.69 $3.69

-2.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.10 $1.10

0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.87 $0.87

-5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.97 $1.97

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.40 $3.40

1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.73 $1.73

6.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.25 $2.25

23.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.40 $1.40

-2.14%

Eggs

$3.17 $3.17

$2.36 $2.36

34.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.73 $7.73

1.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.59 $5.59

22.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 $10.28

$10.12 $10.12

1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$3.32 $3.32

56.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.47 $1.47

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.51 $3.51

-4.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.92 $2.92

-2.05%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.32 $3.32

-3.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.97 $0.97

-2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.94 $0.94

-4.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.12 $4.12

$4.02 $4.02

2.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.21 $12.21

$11.96 $11.96

2.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$2.15 $2.15

5.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.92 $2.92

1.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 $6.15

$5.93 $5.93

3.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.08 $3.08

-5.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.92 $19.92

$20.29 $20.29

-1.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.17 $1.17

0.85%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K $25.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.8K $26.8K

1.91%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 $130

$132 $132

-1.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.43 $21.43

$21.64 $21.64

-0.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.40 $42.40

$42.77 $42.77

-0.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.80 $24.80

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

$4.95 $4.95

-1.01%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$165 $165

$162 $162

1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,708 $4,708

$4,755 $4,755

-0.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 $68.2

$66.6 $66.6

2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.52 $47.52

$46.17 $46.17

2.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$115 $115

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 $773

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 $565

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 $1,201

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$886 $886

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 $401

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Aguilares: September 19, 2026

Last update for Santa Tecla: September 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $43.00 in Aguilares vs $43.00 in Santa Tecla. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $262, with Santa Tecla cheaper for home cooking.

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 Santa Tecla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Santa Tecla. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,228 in Aguilares and $2,095 in Santa Tecla 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.

Childcare runs $165 in Aguilares versus $162 in Santa Tecla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Aguilares – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $43.00 in Santa Tecla. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $819 in Aguilares versus $1,396 in Santa Tecla, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in Santa Tecla. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Aguilares and Santa Tecla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Santa Tecla. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.