Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahuachapan and Ilopango Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahuachapan and Ilopango

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,865 per month in Ahuachapan vs $1,614 in Ilopango, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,050 per month in Ahuachapan vs $1,880 in Ilopango, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,236 per month in Ahuachapan vs $2,147 in Ilopango, rent included.

Ahuachapan costs about 16% more than Ilopango, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ahuachapan and Ilopango sit above the global median – Ahuachapan by 36%, Ilopango by 18%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.06 $7.06

$3.12 $3.12

126.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.23 $44.23

$45.85 $45.85

-3.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 $7.09

$5.07 $5.07

39.84%

Cappuccino

$3.67 $3.67

$2.89 $2.89

26.99%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.93 $0.93

-7.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.94 $0.94

114.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.68 $1.68

104.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 $1.87

$3.26 $3.26

-42.64%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.44 $1.44

99.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$3.04 $3.04

-53.29%

Eggs

$3.10 $3.10

$2.94 $2.94

5.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$4.94 $4.94

53.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$5.92 $5.92

19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.32 $10.32

$10.10 $10.10

2.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$2.94 $2.94

73.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.05 $2.05

-26.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$2.04 $2.04

40.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.98 $1.98

72.22%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.98 $1.98

53.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.96 $1.96

66.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.92 $0.92

10.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.98 $0.98

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.02 $4.02

0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 $11.81

$12.23 $12.23

-3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.99 $0.99

129.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.96 $1.96

45.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 $0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.66 $35.66

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 $6.08

$6.93 $6.93

-12.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.24 $2.24

35.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.32 $20.32

$4.78 $4.78

325.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.62 $0.62

87.10%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$20.3K $20.3K

22.21%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$25.8K $25.8K

3.94%

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

$129 $129

$35.70 $35.70

261.34%

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

$21.41 $21.41

$10.07 $10.07

112.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.03 $43.03

$39.85 $39.85

7.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.94 $39.94

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.94 $9.94

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 $5.07

$5.12 $5.12

-0.98%

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

$159 $159

$107 $107

49.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,795 $4,795

$1,889 $1,889

153.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 $68.2

$19.94 $19.94

241.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.34 $47.34

$30.59 $30.59

54.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$73.6 $73.6

63.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$59.8 $59.8

94.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 $530

$663 $663

-20.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,039 $1,039

$1,023 $1,023

1.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 $374

$584 $584

-35.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 $394

$624 $624

-36.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,146 $3,146

$1,715 $1,715

83.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,301 $1,301

$971 $971

33.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$567 $567

$1,001 $1,001

-43.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

41.67%

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

Last update for Ahuachapan: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ilopango: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $530 in Ahuachapan versus $663 in Ilopango. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Ilopango, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Ahuachapan versus $46.00 in Ilopango. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Ahuachapan vs $249 in Ilopango – so Ilopango wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Ahuachapan vs Ilopango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,865 in Ahuachapan, $1,614 in Ilopango – roughly 16% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,797 per month in Ahuachapan and $2,421 in Ilopango. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ilopango, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,865 in Ahuachapan and $1,614 in Ilopango. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $159 per month in Ahuachapan and $107 in Ilopango. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilopango, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Ahuachapan at $1,865. In Ilopango it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ilopango – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ilopango. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ahuachapan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.