Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Ilopango Cost of Living Comparison Between El Congo and Ilopango

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $575 per month in El Congo vs $1,628 in Ilopango, rent included.

A couple spends around $601 per month in El Congo vs $1,859 in Ilopango, rent included.

A family of three spends $626 per month in El Congo vs $2,090 in Ilopango, rent included.

El Congo is about 65% cheaper than Ilopango, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

El Congo sits 57% below the global median, while Ilopango is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 $3.14

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 $5.11

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

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

$0.92 $0.92

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 $1.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 $9.81

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 $0.97

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 $0.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.43 $35.43

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 $2.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

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

$20.1K $20.1K

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

$25.4K $25.4K

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

$35.57 $35.57

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

$10.10 $10.10

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 $40.39

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

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

$106 $106

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 $1,950

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 $20.30

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 $30.27

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 $732

$663 $663

10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$561 $561

$1,010 $1,010

-44.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$966 $966

$593 $593

62.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 $636

$621 $621

2.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,282 $4,282

$1,698 $1,698

152.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,300 $1,300

$963 $963

34.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$968 $968

$999 $999

-3.11%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ilopango: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in El Congo versus $663 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 3% higher in Ilopango, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $575 in El Congo, $1,628 in Ilopango – roughly 183% apart. Ilopango costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $863 per month in El Congo and $2,442 in Ilopango. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Congo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Congo, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Ilopango at $1,628. In El Congo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilopango it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward El Congo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.