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 6.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 38.1% more expensive than El Salvador without rent, and 33.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.19 ₡5,052

$7.29 $7.29

39.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 ₡30.0K

$29.56 $29.56

104.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.17 ₡5,041

$7.16 $7.16

42.04%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,933

$3.28 $3.28

18.90%

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

$2.19 ₡1,086

$1.11 $1.11

97.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡819

$0.83 $0.83

98.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₡1,460

$1.99 $1.99

48.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 ₡2,142

$3.19 $3.19

35.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡1,005

$1.84 $1.84

10.33%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 ₡1,576

$2.02 $2.02

57.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 ₡1,234

$1.63 $1.63

52.76%

Eggs

$3.41 ₡1,688

$2.63 $2.63

29.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 ₡4,584

$7.38 $7.38

25.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 ₡4,670

$5.90 $5.90

59.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.28 ₡6,583

$9.64 $9.64

37.76%

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 ₡2,235

$3.32 $3.32

35.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 ₡763

$1.84 $1.84

-16.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.37 ₡1,673

$2.52 $2.52

33.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.94 ₡1,458

$2.77 $2.77

6.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 ₡1,475

$2.32 $2.32

28.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,403

$2.21 $2.21

28.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡502

$0.95 $0.95

6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,257

$1.09 $1.09

133.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.03 ₡2,494

$4.06 $4.06

23.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 ₡7,589

$9.13 $9.13

67.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 ₡1,145

$1.67 $1.67

38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,347

$2.37 $2.37

14.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡475

$0.34 $0.34

182.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.97 ₡24.3K

$28.99 $28.99

68.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡893

$6.32 $6.32

-71.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 ₡995

$3.06 $3.06

-34.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.51 ₡3,723

$20.08 $20.08

-62.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 ₡752

$1.00 $1.00

52.00%

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

$36.6K ₡18.2M

$25.1K $25.1K

45.84%

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

$36.0K ₡17.9M

$27.0K $27.0K

33.24%

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

$85.9 ₡42.6K

$90.4 $90.4

-5.05%

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

$25.46 ₡12.6K

$19.81 $19.81

28.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.9 ₡26.7K

$41.37 $41.37

30.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.3 ₡28.4K

$31.26 $31.26

83.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.36 ₡14.6K

$19.55 $19.55

50.18%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 ₡4,466

$4.87 $4.87

85.01%

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

$540 ₡267.8K

$141 $141

283.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K ₡5.0M

$4,220 $4,220

138.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.5 ₡35.5K

$58.0 $58.0

23.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₡27.2K

$39.48 $39.48

39.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ₡58.2K

$109 $109

7.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 ₡50.8K

$95.0 $95.0

7.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$810 ₡401.7K

$681 $681

18.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 ₡272.9K

$656 $656

-16.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,488 ₡737.8K

$1,105 $1,105

34.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,043 ₡516.9K

$844 $844

23.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,335 ₡1.2M

$2,658 $2,658

-12.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,607 ₡796.5K

$1,558 $1,558

3.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$981 ₡486.2K

$488 $488

100.82%

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: January 12, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: January 11, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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