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 $765 per month in Brazil vs $882 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,223 per month in Brazil vs $1,268 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,681 per month in Brazil vs $1,653 in El Salvador, rent included.

Brazil is roughly 13% cheaper than 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 43% lower, El Salvador 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.34 R$27.03

$7.40 $7.40

-27.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.68 R$145

$29.89 $29.89

-4.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.33 R$32.03

$7.09 $7.09

-10.72%

Cappuccino

$1.77 R$8.94

$3.46 $3.46

-48.84%

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

$1.08 R$5.46

$1.14 $1.14

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.32

$0.83 $0.83

-20.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 R$9.18

$1.99 $1.99

-9.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 R$13.94

$3.20 $3.20

-13.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 R$4.72

$1.93 $1.93

-51.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 R$7.44

$2.04 $2.04

-27.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 R$5.95

$1.59 $1.59

-25.79%

Eggs

$2.05 R$10.38

$2.57 $2.57

-20.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 R$42.21

$7.54 $7.54

10.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 R$19.08

$5.75 $5.75

-34.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 R$36.74

$9.90 $9.90

-26.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 R$10.49

$3.38 $3.38

-38.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 R$6.43

$1.92 $1.92

-33.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 R$5.71

$2.57 $2.57

-56.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 R$7.33

$2.68 $2.68

-45.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 R$5.73

$2.31 $2.31

-51.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 R$5.60

$2.16 $2.16

-48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 R$3.64

$0.97 $0.97

-25.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 R$3.47

$1.09 $1.09

-36.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.15 R$10.86

$4.06 $4.06

-47.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.09 R$40.91

$10.94 $10.94

-26.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 R$5.92

$1.64 $1.64

-28.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 R$10.78

$2.38 $2.38

-10.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 R$4.36

$0.34 $0.34

152.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.93 R$207

$28.47 $28.47

43.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.06 R$5.35

$6.46 $6.46

-83.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 R$4.53

$2.93 $2.93

-69.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.33 R$37.08

$19.79 $19.79

-62.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 R$5.26

$1.04 $1.04

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

$21.3K R$107.7K

$24.6K $24.6K

-13.64%

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

$27.5K R$139.1K

$27.0K $27.0K

1.93%

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

$68.1 R$344

$90.0 $90.0

-24.42%

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

$14.08 R$71.2

$19.72 $19.72

-28.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.45 R$98.4

$41.19 $41.19

-52.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.15 R$117

$30.05 $30.05

-22.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.55 R$114

$19.18 $19.18

17.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 R$32.19

$4.87 $4.87

30.60%

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

$289 R$1,461

$141 $141

104.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,444 R$37.7K

$4,238 $4,238

75.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.66 R$251

$57.0 $57.0

-12.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.98 R$212

$39.87 $39.87

5.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 R$391

$110 $110

-29.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.0 R$319

$97.8 $97.8

-35.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 R$1,650

$700 $700

-53.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 R$1,157

$640 $640

-64.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$634 R$3,205

$1,108 $1,108

-42.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$452 R$2,288

$859 $859

-47.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,906 R$9,642

$2,744 $2,744

-30.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,257 R$6,362

$1,573 $1,573

-20.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 R$2,713

$439 $439

22.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

9.05

23.31%

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

Last update for Brazil: May 31, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $304 in Brazil vs $293 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $408 in Brasilia and $827 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $494 in Brazil vs $574 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Public transport is 388% 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

Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 7% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 7% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in El Salvador it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Brazil 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.