Cost of Living Comparison Between El Salvador and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between El Salvador and United States

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: El Salvador is 38.2% cheaper than United States without rent, and 49.4% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: El Salvador is 42.1% cheaper than United States without rent, and 52.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.45 $7.45
$19.97 $19.97
-62.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.50 $30.50
$74.7 $74.7
-59.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.87 $6.87
$11.40 $11.40
-39.74%
Cappuccino
$3.31 $3.31
$5.37 $5.37
-38.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.63 $2.63
-56.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.06 $2.06
-56.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 $1.96
$5.90 $5.90
-66.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 $3.07
$7.02 $7.02
-56.27%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.09 $1.09
67.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 $1.96
$3.55 $3.55
-44.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$4.73 $4.73
-65.75%
Eggs
$2.67 $2.67
$4.30 $4.30
-37.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.46 $7.46
$13.01 $13.01
-42.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$12.22 $12.22
-51.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.54 $9.54
$16.36 $16.36
-41.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.32 $3.32
$5.21 $5.21
-36.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.70 $1.70
8.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.50 $2.50
$4.59 $4.59
-45.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 $2.66
$4.97 $4.97
-46.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$2.98 $2.98
-22.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$3.04 $3.04
-28.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 $0.96
$2.26 $2.26
-57.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 $1.13
$2.17 $2.17
-47.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.93 $3.93
$9.83 $9.83
-60.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.83 $10.83
$15.17 $15.17
-28.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.91 $1.91
-15.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$3.58 $3.58
-33.24%
🚌 Getting Around
El Salvador
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$2.49 $2.49
-85.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.21 $29.21
$66.1 $66.1
-55.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.37 $6.37
$3.82 $3.82
66.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.78 $1.78
64.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.15 $20.15
$29.48 $29.48
-31.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.91 $0.91
13.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K $24.8K
$29.5K $29.5K
-15.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.1K $26.1K
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.6 $90.6
$206 $206
-56.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.85 $19.85
$56.9 $56.9
-65.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.97 $41.97
$72.8 $72.8
-42.32%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.08 $30.08
$45.23 $45.23
-33.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.42 $19.42
$21.84 $21.84
-11.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.10 $5.10
$13.79 $13.79
-63.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$144 $144
$1,355 $1,355
-89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,311 $4,311
$22.6K $22.6K
-80.89%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 $57.0
$51.3 $51.3
11.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.43 $40.43
$42.37 $42.37
-4.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$88.6 $88.6
25.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4 $95.4
$115 $115
-17.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$697 $697
$1,763 $1,763
-60.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$634 $634
$1,432 $1,432
-55.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,097 $1,097
$2,827 $2,827
-61.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$867 $867
$2,358 $2,358
-63.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,708 $2,708
$3,391 $3,391
-20.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,555 $1,555
$2,614 $2,614
-40.51%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$433 $433
$4,326 $4,326
-90.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.05
6.51
39.02%

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

Last update for El Salvador: March 2, 2026

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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