Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and El Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Brazil and El Salvador

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in Brazil vs $949 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,346 per month in Brazil vs $1,377 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,845 per month in Brazil vs $1,805 in El Salvador, rent included.

The cost of living in Brazil is roughly 11% lower than in El Salvador on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Brazil and El Salvador are more affordable than the global median – Brazil 39% lower, El Salvador 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 R$33.16

$6.83 $6.83

-5.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.65 R$173

$45.14 $45.14

-25.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 R$40.59

$7.15 $7.15

10.77%

Cappuccino

$2.07 R$10.61

$3.63 $3.63

-42.98%

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

$1.26 R$6.48

$1.15 $1.15

9.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 R$3.77

$0.91 $0.91

-18.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 R$9.86

$2.04 $2.04

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 R$15.09

$3.60 $3.60

-18.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 R$5.52

$1.75 $1.75

-38.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 R$8.92

$2.36 $2.36

-26.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 R$6.69

$1.59 $1.59

-18.24%

Eggs

$2.23 R$11.42

$2.74 $2.74

-18.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.16 R$46.94

$7.35 $7.35

24.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 R$22.22

$5.98 $5.98

-27.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 R$43.35

$8.96 $8.96

-5.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 R$11.37

$3.89 $3.89

-42.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 R$6.81

$1.79 $1.79

-25.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 R$6.16

$2.88 $2.88

-58.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 R$7.78

$2.89 $2.89

-47.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 R$6.13

$2.96 $2.96

-59.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 R$5.47

$2.36 $2.36

-54.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 R$4.30

$0.96 $0.96

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 R$4.09

$0.95 $0.95

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.39 R$12.27

$3.89 $3.89

-38.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.62 R$39.06

$12.01 $12.01

-36.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 R$6.98

$1.95 $1.95

-30.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 R$11.89

$2.85 $2.85

-18.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 R$5.23

$0.34 $0.34

200.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.47 R$228

$34.50 $34.50

28.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.30 R$6.66

$6.54 $6.54

-80.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.94 R$4.83

$3.09 $3.09

-69.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 R$41.15

$19.84 $19.84

-59.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 R$6.39

$1.16 $1.16

7.76%

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

$23.0K R$117.7K

$24.8K $24.8K

-7.31%

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

$31.6K R$161.8K

$27.7K $27.7K

13.92%

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

$81.0 R$415

$104 $104

-22.01%

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

$12.79 R$65.6

$22.39 $22.39

-42.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.82 R$107

$40.24 $40.24

-48.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.51 R$131

$31.40 $31.40

-18.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.17 R$134

$16.44 $16.44

59.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 R$35.81

$5.02 $5.02

39.24%

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

$337 R$1,725

$168 $168

100.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,862 R$45.4K

$4,493 $4,493

97.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 R$272

$62.9 $62.9

-15.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 R$250

$50.0 $50.0

-2.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 R$454

$116 $116

-23.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.5 R$351

$103 $103

-33.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 R$1,933

$751 $751

-49.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 R$1,250

$650 $650

-62.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$724 R$3,713

$1,252 $1,252

-42.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$477 R$2,445

$861 $861

-44.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,846 R$9,462

$2,659 $2,659

-30.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,262 R$6,469

$1,559 $1,559

-19.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 R$2,686

$431 $431

21.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

8.48

31.96%

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

Last update for Brazil: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $341 in Brazil vs $312 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $479 in Brasilia and $905 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $487 in Brazil vs $567 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 9% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 17% more in El Salvador.

Public transport is 680% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 16% higher in El Salvador.

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

Brazil vs El Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Salvador is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 11% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Brazil, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Brazil consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in El Salvador, contributing to the overall 11% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in El Salvador, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

El Salvador is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.