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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,624 per month in Costa Rica vs $940 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,530 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,371 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,435 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,802 in El Salvador, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 73% higher than in El Salvador on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 20% above the global median, while El Salvador is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.90 ₡4,888

$7.08 $7.08

53.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.4 ₡24.8K

$44.81 $44.81

23.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.84 ₡4,861

$6.79 $6.79

59.65%

Cappuccino

$4.36 ₡1,955

$3.48 $3.48

25.29%

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

$2.34 ₡1,047

$1.10 $1.10

112.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₡872

$0.91 $0.91

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 ₡1,507

$1.94 $1.94

73.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ₡2,000

$3.57 $3.57

24.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₡1,050

$1.75 $1.75

33.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 ₡1,556

$2.39 $2.39

45.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.75 ₡1,234

$1.58 $1.58

74.05%

Eggs

$3.99 ₡1,788

$2.60 $2.60

53.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.65 ₡4,326

$7.66 $7.66

25.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 ₡4,472

$6.00 $6.00

66.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.87 ₡6,220

$9.30 $9.30

49.14%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 ₡2,221

$3.78 $3.78

30.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ₡756

$1.78 $1.78

-5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.62 ₡1,625

$2.88 $2.88

25.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,447

$2.74 $2.74

17.88%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,576

$2.42 $2.42

45.45%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 ₡1,395

$2.47 $2.47

25.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡486

$0.89 $0.89

21.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 ₡1,221

$0.94 $0.94

189.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 ₡2,436

$4.07 $4.07

33.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.55 ₡6,974

$11.99 $11.99

29.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 ₡1,185

$2.00 $2.00

32.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 ₡1,490

$2.65 $2.65

25.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ₡488

$0.37 $0.37

194.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.3 ₡29.3K

$35.26 $35.26

85.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 ₡1,014

$6.67 $6.67

-66.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 ₡904

$3.04 $3.04

-33.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.23 ₡4,137

$20.04 $20.04

-53.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡697

$1.14 $1.14

35.96%

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

$33.5K ₡15.0M

$25.2K $25.2K

32.65%

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

$36.6K ₡16.4M

$28.4K $28.4K

28.61%

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

$96.9 ₡43.4K

$105 $105

-8.09%

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

$29.70 ₡13.3K

$22.45 $22.45

32.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.6 ₡26.7K

$41.56 $41.56

43.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.0 ₡29.1K

$31.00 $31.00

109.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.91 ₡10.3K

$18.72 $18.72

22.38%

Cinema Ticket

$8.41 ₡3,771

$4.91 $4.91

71.28%

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

$742 ₡332.9K

$168 $168

341.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.7M

$4,426 $4,426

185.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 ₡34.4K

$64.6 $64.6

18.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.2 ₡23.4K

$48.49 $48.49

7.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$129 ₡58.0K

$116 $116

11.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ₡50.5K

$102 $102

10.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$887 ₡397.7K

$744 $744

19.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 ₡300.6K

$642 $642

4.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,710 ₡767.0K

$1,263 $1,263

35.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 ₡527.4K

$869 $869

35.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,476 ₡1.1M

$2,760 $2,760

-10.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,667 ₡747.6K

$1,570 $1,570

6.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,084 ₡485.9K

$430 $430

151.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.53

8.48

12.38%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: August 3, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: August 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $769 in Costa Rica vs $311 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $957 in San Jose and $888 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $1,101 in Costa Rica vs $570 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 147% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 43% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 180% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 93% higher in Costa Rica.

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

Costa Rica vs El Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Salvador is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 67% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in El Salvador, contributing to the overall 67% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in El Salvador, but in Costa Rica 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.