Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahuachapan and San Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahuachapan and San Salvador

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,835 per month in Ahuachapan vs $1,628 in San Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,032 per month in Ahuachapan vs $2,448 in San Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,229 per month in Ahuachapan vs $3,267 in San Salvador, rent included.

Ahuachapan costs about 13% more than San Salvador, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ahuachapan and San Salvador sit above the global median – Ahuachapan by 34%, San Salvador by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.07 $7.07

$6.90 $6.90

2.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.10 $44.10

$43.49 $43.49

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.05 $7.05

$6.84 $6.84

3.07%

Cappuccino

$3.50 $3.50

$3.62 $3.62

-3.31%

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

$1.15 $1.15

$1.16 $1.16

-0.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.87 $0.87

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.05 $2.05

-3.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.40 $3.40

0.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.77 $1.77

3.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.89 $2.89

-2.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

Eggs

$3.11 $3.11

$3.05 $3.05

1.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.90 $7.90

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.37 $10.37

-1.83%

Apples (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.08 $5.08

2.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.47 $1.47

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.93 $2.93

1.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.53 $3.53

-2.83%

Potato (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$2.98 $2.98

0.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.32 $3.32

1.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.95 $0.95

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.99 $0.99

-5.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.91 $3.91

4.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$12.24 $12.24

-1.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.24 $2.24

-2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.97 $2.97

-4.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 $36.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.87 $5.87

$6.03 $6.03

-2.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.06 $3.06

$3.08 $3.08

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.63 $19.63

$19.97 $19.97

-1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.22 $1.22

-4.92%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

-0.37%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.9K $26.9K

1.52%

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

$128 $128

$132 $132

-2.76%

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

$21.27 $21.27

$21.62 $21.62

-1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.31 $43.31

$41.75 $41.75

3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.02 $32.02

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.90 $21.90

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 $5.03

$5.10 $5.10

-1.37%

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

$161 $161

0.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,667 $4,667

-0.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 $66.4

$67.4 $67.4

-1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.23 $47.23

$47.35 $47.35

-0.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$119 $119

-1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 $515

$885 $885

-41.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,024 $1,024

$782 $782

31.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 $373

$1,831 $1,831

-79.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 $393

$1,368 $1,368

-71.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 $3,075

$2,797 $2,797

9.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,281 $1,281

$1,847 $1,847

-30.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$566 $566

$378 $378

49.51%

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 Ahuachapan: August 31, 2026

Last update for San Salvador: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Ahuachapan versus $885 in San Salvador. 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 50% higher in Ahuachapan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Ahuachapan versus $43.00 in San Salvador. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Ahuachapan vs $291 in San Salvador – so Ahuachapan 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 San Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,835 in Ahuachapan, $1,628 in San Salvador – roughly 13% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,753 per month in Ahuachapan and $2,443 in San Salvador. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Salvador, 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 $1,835 in Ahuachapan and $1,628 in San Salvador. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Ahuachapan and $161 in San Salvador. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Salvador, where all-in costs run around $1,628, than in Ahuachapan at $1,835. In San Salvador it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Salvador – 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 San Salvador. 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.