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

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in China versus $949 in El Salvador.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,148 in China versus $1,377 in El Salvador.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in China versus $1,805 in El Salvador.

Living in China costs about 24% less than in El Salvador on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: China 48% lower, El Salvador 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 ¥19.60

$6.83 $6.83

-57.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.72 ¥152

$45.14 $45.14

-49.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ¥33.95

$7.15 $7.15

-29.09%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ¥19.70

$3.63 $3.63

-19.01%

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

$0.48 ¥3.21

$1.15 $1.15

-58.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.02

$0.91 $0.91

-67.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ¥7.10

$2.04 $2.04

-48.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ¥15.07

$3.60 $3.60

-37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥11.99

$1.75 $1.75

2.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 ¥11.35

$2.36 $2.36

-27.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ¥6.45

$1.59 $1.59

-39.62%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥10.79

$2.74 $2.74

-41.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.60 ¥91.1

$7.35 $7.35

85.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 ¥22.84

$5.98 $5.98

-42.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ¥74.2

$8.96 $8.96

23.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 ¥12.09

$3.89 $3.89

-53.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.74

$1.79 $1.79

-27.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 ¥9.91

$2.88 $2.88

-48.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 ¥8.72

$2.89 $2.89

-55.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 ¥4.82

$2.96 $2.96

-75.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 ¥6.31

$2.36 $2.36

-60.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ¥4.08

$0.96 $0.96

-36.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.73

$0.95 $0.95

-41.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.67 ¥24.58

$3.89 $3.89

-5.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 ¥79.7

$12.01 $12.01

-0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.56

$1.95 $1.95

-57.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ¥11.08

$2.85 $2.85

-42.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.92

$0.34 $0.34

-14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.61 ¥151

$34.50 $34.50

-34.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ¥9.72

$6.54 $6.54

-77.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 ¥2.31

$3.09 $3.09

-89.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.27 ¥48.72

$19.84 $19.84

-63.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ¥8.26

$1.16 $1.16

6.03%

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

$19.5K ¥130.9K

$24.8K $24.8K

-21.15%

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

$17.2K ¥115.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-37.76%

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

$55.5 ¥371

$104 $104

-46.59%

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

$8.51 ¥57.0

$22.39 $22.39

-61.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.81 ¥72.4

$40.24 $40.24

-73.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.02 ¥268

$31.40 $31.40

27.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.80 ¥99.1

$16.44 $16.44

-9.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ¥45.09

$5.02 $5.02

34.06%

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

$454 ¥3,042

$168 $168

170.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.5K ¥130.8K

$4,493 $4,493

334.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.95 ¥301

$62.9 $62.9

-28.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.81 ¥240

$50.0 $50.0

-28.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 ¥514

$116 $116

-33.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.3 ¥518

$103 $103

-24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ¥2,581

$751 $751

-48.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ¥1,623

$650 $650

-62.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 ¥5,603

$1,252 $1,252

-33.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$474 ¥3,177

$861 $861

-44.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,619 ¥30.9K

$2,659 $2,659

73.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,316 ¥15.5K

$1,559 $1,559

48.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,062 ¥7,110

$431 $431

146.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.47

8.48

-59.08%

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

Last update for China: September 5, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $295 in China, $312 in El Salvador. Capital cities: $957 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $905 in San Salvador.

National salary averages: $865 in China, $567 in El Salvador. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 6% higher in El Salvador.

Dining out costs 67% more in El Salvador.

Public transport is 240% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 53% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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

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

At $852 per month in China and $903 in El Salvador, there's a 6% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in China: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent in El Salvador is consistently higher than in China across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.

In China, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in El Salvador it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: China wins on affordability; El Salvador may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.