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

🙂 Solo nomad: El Salvador is 25.4% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: El Salvador is 28.3% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 24.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.3 $7.3
$9.65 ₡4,833
-24.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.02 $30.02
$58.6 ₡29.3K
-48.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.1 $7.1
$9.9 ₡4,957
-28.28%
Cappuccino
$3.37 $3.37
$3.9 ₡1,954
-13.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.2 ₡1,100
-50.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.65 ₡827
-46.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 $2.05
$3.03 ₡1,517
-32.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$4.55 ₡2,278
-30.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 $1.85
$2.06 ₡1,033
-10.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.06 ₡1,530
-34.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.52 ₡1,261
-35.32%
Eggs
$2.64 $2.64
$3.29 ₡1,646
-19.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$9.29 ₡4,650
-22.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$9.54 ₡4,775
-38.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.45 $9.45
$13.6 ₡6,808
-30.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$4.67 ₡2,337
-26.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.56 ₡782
22.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.34 ₡1,672
-25.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.01 ₡1,507
-11.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.04 ₡1,524
-22.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$2.85 ₡1,426
-22.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.01 ₡506
-5.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.54 ₡1,273
-57.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 $4.07
$4.86 ₡2,434
-16.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$14.87 ₡7,442
-33.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.27 ₡1,137
-28.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.73 ₡1,366
-9.16%
🚌 Getting Around
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$0.95 ₡476
-62.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.74 $28.74
$49.46 ₡24.8K
-41.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.54 $6.54
$1.81 ₡904
261.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.93 ₡969
58.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.77 $19.77
$7.69 ₡3,850
157.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.47 ₡735
-29.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$37.4K ₡18.7M
-34.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$34.8K ₡17.4M
-24.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90 $90
$86.9 ₡43.5K
3.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.99 $19.99
$25.46 ₡12.7K
-21.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.97 $40.97
$54.7 ₡27.4K
-25.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.24 $30.24
$57.8 ₡28.9K
-47.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 $19.18
$28.42 ₡14.2K
-32.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 $4.88
$9.08 ₡4,546
-46.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 $143
$551 ₡275.9K
-74.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,301 $4,301
$9,816 ₡4.9M
-56.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$72.3 ₡36.2K
-21.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 $39.65
$55.2 ₡27.6K
-28.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$118 ₡59.3K
-5.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7 $97.7
$104 ₡52.1K
-6.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 $693
$817 ₡408.8K
-15.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 $650
$539 ₡269.6K
20.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 $1,105
$1,495 ₡748.3K
-26.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$843 $843
$1,019 ₡510.2K
-17.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,335 $2,335
$2,511 ₡1.3M
-7.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 $1,441
$1,384 ₡693K
4.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 $492
$996 ₡498.8K
-50.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.05
10.53
-14.06%

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

Last update for El Salvador: October 28, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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