Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Ilopango

For one person, living is cheaper in El Congo: $575 a month against $1,619 in Ilopango, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year.

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Cost of Living Index in Ilopango
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Ilopango Living Index

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El Congo

🇸🇻 El Salvador

$575

/mo nomad

Ilopango

🇸🇻 El Salvador

$1,619

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in El Congo and in Ilopango

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in El Congo and in Ilopango actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $575 per month in El Congo vs $1,619 in Ilopango, rent included.

El Congo $575
Ilopango $1,619

A couple spends around $600 per month in El Congo vs $1,863 in Ilopango, rent included.

El Congo $600
Ilopango $1,863

A family of three spends $625 per month in El Congo vs $2,107 in Ilopango, rent included.

El Congo $625
Ilopango $2,107

El Congo is about 64% cheaper than Ilopango.

El Congo sits 58% below the global median, while Ilopango is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 $3.23

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.80 $44.80

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 $4.97

Cappuccino

$2.96 $2.96

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

$0.87 $0.87

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 $0.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

Milk (1 liter)

$3.20 $3.20

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 $1.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.06 $3.06

Eggs

$2.95 $2.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.20 $10.20

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

Potato (1kg)

$2.02 $2.02

Onion (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 $0.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

Wine (Bottle)

$11.84 $11.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 $2.05

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 $0.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.26 $35.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 $4.66

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

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

$19.8K $19.8K

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

$25.3K $25.3K

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

$35.69 $35.69

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

$9.91 $9.91

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.70 $40.70

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.29 $40.29

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.07 $10.07

Cinema Ticket

$5.14 $5.14

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

$103 $103

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,882 $1,882

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.18 $20.18

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.10 $30.10

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 $74.3

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.0 $59.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 $711

$672 $672

5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 $575

$1,002 $1,002

-42.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$968 $968

$592 $592

63.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 $625

$619 $619

0.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,225 $4,225

$1,689 $1,689

150.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,307 $1,307

$953 $953

37.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 $942

$1,010 $1,010

-6.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.72

-4.67%

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

Last update for El Congo: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ilopango: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$1K 61.9%

Groceries & Markets

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$249 15.4%

Eating Out

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$92 5.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$86 5.3%

Clothing & Footwear

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$83 5.1%

Getting Around

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$57 3.5%

Sport & Entertainment

El Congo

–

Ilopango

$51 3.1%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $711 in El Congo versus $672 in Ilopango. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Ilopango, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇸🇻 El Congo

🇸🇻 Ilopango

🕒 Local time

02:34 2:34 AM

Same time as El Congo

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,905

38,890

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.891 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

El Congo Ilopango 55 km

From you

El Congo
Ilopango

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

El Congo vs Ilopango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ilopango costs about 181% more than El Congo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $863 per month in El Congo and $2,429 in Ilopango. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $711 in El Congo and $672 in Ilopango. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Ilopango at $1,619. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilopango it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. El Congo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $575 in El Congo to $1,619 in Ilopango. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with El Congo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ilopango makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.