Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and El Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and El Salvador

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 34% more expensive than El Salvador without rent, and 8.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 39.4% more expensive than El Salvador without rent, and 32.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 ₡4,833

$7.3 $7.3

32.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$30.02 $30.02

95.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 ₡4,957

$7.1 $7.1

39.44%

Cappuccino

$3.9 ₡1,954

$3.37 $3.37

15.73%

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

$2.2 ₡1,100

$1.09 $1.09

101.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡827

$0.89 $0.89

85.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,517

$2.05 $2.05

47.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,278

$3.17 $3.17

43.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$1.85 $1.85

11.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 ₡1,530

$2.01 $2.01

52.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 ₡1,261

$1.63 $1.63

54.60%

Eggs

$3.29 ₡1,646

$2.64 $2.64

24.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 ₡4,650

$7.18 $7.18

29.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 ₡4,775

$5.82 $5.82

63.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.6 ₡6,808

$9.45 $9.45

43.92%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,337

$3.43 $3.43

36.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₡782

$1.91 $1.91

-18.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,672

$2.48 $2.48

34.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 ₡1,507

$2.67 $2.67

12.73%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ₡1,524

$2.36 $2.36

28.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$2.21 $2.21

28.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡506

$0.95 $0.95

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,273

$1.09 $1.09

133.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 ₡2,434

$4.07 $4.07

19.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 ₡7,442

$9.91 $9.91

50.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₡1,137

$1.63 $1.63

39.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,366

$2.48 $2.48

10.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡476

$0.36 $0.36

163.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.46 ₡24.8K

$28.74 $28.74

72.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡904

$6.54 $6.54

-72.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 ₡969

$3.05 $3.05

-36.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 ₡3,850

$19.77 $19.77

-61.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡735

$1.03 $1.03

42.72%

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

$37.4K ₡18.7M

$24.7K $24.7K

51.66%

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

$34.8K ₡17.4M

$26.2K $26.2K

32.65%

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

$86.9 ₡43.5K

$90 $90

-3.48%

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

$25.46 ₡12.7K

$19.99 $19.99

27.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 ₡27.4K

$40.97 $40.97

33.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$30.24 $30.24

91.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.42 ₡14.2K

$19.18 $19.18

48.18%

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 ₡4,546

$4.88 $4.88

86.07%

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

$551 ₡275.9K

$143 $143

285.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,816 ₡4.9M

$4,301 $4,301

128.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 ₡36.2K

$56.7 $56.7

27.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.2 ₡27.6K

$39.65 $39.65

39.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₡59.3K

$112 $112

5.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₡52.1K

$97.7 $97.7

6.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₡408.8K

$693 $693

17.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₡269.6K

$650 $650

-17.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 ₡748.3K

$1,105 $1,105

35.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 ₡510.2K

$843 $843

20.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 ₡1.3M

$2,335 $2,335

7.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,384 ₡693K

$1,441 $1,441

-3.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.8K

$492 $492

102.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

9.05

16.35%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for El Salvador: October 28, 2025

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