For one person, living is cheaper in El Salvador: $1,482 a month against $2,310 in Canada, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in El Salvador and in Canada
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in El Salvador and in Canada actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,482 per month in El Salvador vs $2,310 in Canada, rent included.
El Salvador $1,482
Canada $2,310
A couple spends around $2,112 per month in El Salvador vs $3,356 in Canada, rent included.
El Salvador $2,112
Canada $3,356
A family of three spends $2,742 per month in El Salvador vs $4,403 in Canada, rent included.
El Salvador $2,742
Canada $4,403
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Canada ($889–$3,737) than in El Salvador ($207–$1,812), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in El Salvador is roughly 36% lower than in Canada on average.
📊
Both El Salvador and Canada are pricier than the global median – El Salvador by 9%, Canada by 70%.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.92$6.92
$18.16CA$25.52
-61.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.49$45.49
$71.2CA$100
-36.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84$6.84
$10.81CA$15.19
-36.73%
Cappuccino
$3.57$3.57
$3.78CA$5.31
-5.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14$1.14
$2.11CA$2.97
-45.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85$0.85
$1.66CA$2.33
-48.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04$2.04
$5.62CA$7.89
-63.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60$3.60
$5.72CA$8.04
-37.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84$1.84
$2.17CA$3.06
-15.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28$2.28
$2.60CA$3.66
-12.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$3.65CA$5.13
-56.71%
Eggs
$2.74$2.74
$3.63CA$5.10
-24.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.30$7.30
$10.76CA$15.12
-32.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.99$5.99
$11.90CA$16.72
-49.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.16$9.16
$15.42CA$21.67
-40.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.83$3.83
$4.03CA$5.66
-4.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70$1.70
$1.38CA$1.95
23.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90$2.90
$3.88CA$5.44
-25.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86$2.86
$4.08CA$5.74
-29.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$2.57CA$3.61
13.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35$2.35
$2.48CA$3.48
-5.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97$0.97
$2.65CA$3.72
-63.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00$1.00
$1.71CA$2.41
-41.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96$3.96
$14.32CA$20.12
-72.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76$11.76
$13.49CA$18.95
-12.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93$1.93
$2.84CA$3.99
-32.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80$2.80
$3.30CA$4.64
-15.15%
🚌 Getting Around
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36$0.36
$2.55CA$3.59
-85.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.83$31.83
$71.9CA$101
-55.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.57$6.57
$3.18CA$4.47
106.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.93$2.93
$1.54CA$2.16
90.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.66$19.66
$26.69CA$37.50
-26.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$1.24CA$1.75
-1.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K$25.1K
$27.9KCA$39.2K
-9.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K$28.1K
$21.1KCA$29.6K
33.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115$115
$147CA$207
-21.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.61$22.61
$41.80CA$58.7
-45.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70$40.70
$60.2CA$84.6
-32.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.90$29.90
$39.01CA$54.8
-23.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.02$17.02
$19.06CA$26.78
-10.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14$5.14
$11.21CA$15.75
-54.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168$168
$721CA$1,013
-76.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,369$4,369
$14.8KCA$20.9K
-70.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9$62.9
$55.3CA$77.7
13.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.82$48.82
$38.95CA$54.7
25.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119$119
$87.4CA$123
36.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$101CA$142
4.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$745$745
$1,290CA$1,813
-42.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652$652
$1,130CA$1,588
-42.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,269$1,269
$2,036CA$2,861
-37.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882$882
$1,731CA$2,432
-49.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,727$2,727
$4,769CA$6,700
-42.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,550$1,550
$3,730CA$5,240
-58.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Salvador
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$433$433
$3,070CA$4,313
-85.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.48
4.87
74.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Salvador: October 25, 2026
Last update for Canada: October 26, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
$652 44%
Canada
$1.1K 48.9% ↑ 73.4%$478
🛒Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
$261 17.6%
Canada
$371 16.1% ↑ 42.1%$110
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
$179 12.1%
Canada
$249 10.8% ↑ 39.5%$71
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
$151 10.2%
Canada
$127 5.5% ↓ 15.9%$24
🍽Eating Out
El Salvador
$144 9.7%
Canada
$278 12% ↑ 92.8%$134
🚌Getting Around
El Salvador
$55 3.7%
Canada
$93 4% ↑ 70.7%$39
🎉Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
$40 2.7%
Canada
$61 2.7% ↑ 52.8%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
$882 32.2%
Canada
$1.7K 39.3% ↑ 96.1%$848
🛒Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
$600 21.9%
Canada
$847 19.2% ↑ 41.1%$247
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
$201 7.3%
Canada
$291 6.6% ↑ 44.6%$90
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
$337 12.3%
Canada
$283 6.4% ↓ 15.9%$54
🍽Eating Out
El Salvador
$514 18.8%
Canada
$918 20.9% ↑ 78.5%$404
🚌Getting Around
El Salvador
$110 4%
Canada
$191 4.3% ↑ 74.2%$81
🎉Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
$97 3.6%
Canada
$142 3.2% ↑ 45.7%$45
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $619 in El Salvador vs $1,250 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $893 in San Salvador and $1,434 in Ottawa.
💰Average salary: $571 in El Salvador vs $2,968 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 102% higher in Canada.
⭐Dining out costs 52% more in Canada.
⭐Public transport is 154% more expensive in Canada.
⭐Salaries are about 5.2 times higher in Canada, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Canada.
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 Salvador vs Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than El Salvador?
El Salvador is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 36% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada: a central one-bedroom averages $1,250 versus $619 in El Salvador.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in El Salvador, adding to the overall 56% price gap.
Should I move to Canada or to El Salvador?
El Salvador is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.
El Salvador vs other spots: cost of living compared