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

🙂 Solo nomad: El Salvador is 39.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 50.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: El Salvador is 40.5% cheaper than United States without rent, and 53.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.3 $7.3
$20.33 $20.33
-64.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.02 $30.02
$74.4 $74.4
-59.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.1 $7.1
$11.49 $11.49
-38.21%
Cappuccino
$3.37 $3.37
$5.09 $5.09
-33.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.54 $2.54
-57.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$2.11 $2.11
-57.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 $2.05
$6.09 $6.09
-66.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$7.1 $7.1
-55.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 $1.85
$1.08 $1.08
71.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.01 $2.01
$3.7 $3.7
-45.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$4.65 $4.65
-64.95%
Eggs
$2.64 $2.64
$4.21 $4.21
-37.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.18 $7.18
$12.75 $12.75
-43.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$12.24 $12.24
-52.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.45 $9.45
$16.08 $16.08
-41.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$5.41 $5.41
-36.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.73 $1.73
10.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$4.37 $4.37
-43.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$4.94 $4.94
-45.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.88 $2.88
-18.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 $2.21
$3.07 $3.07
-28.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 $0.95
$2.25 $2.25
-57.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.21 $2.21
-50.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 $4.07
$10.09 $10.09
-59.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$14.73 $14.73
-32.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.91 $1.91
-14.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$3.54 $3.54
-29.94%
🚌 Getting Around
El Salvador
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$2.56 $2.56
-85.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.74 $28.74
$63.9 $63.9
-54.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.54 $6.54
$3.81 $3.81
71.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.05 $3.05
$1.77 $1.77
72.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.77 $19.77
$30.4 $30.4
-34.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.94 $0.94
9.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K $24.7K
$30K $30K
-17.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$25.8K $25.8K
1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90 $90
$209 $209
-56.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.99 $19.99
$57.9 $57.9
-65.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.97 $40.97
$71.1 $71.1
-42.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.24 $30.24
$45.88 $45.88
-34.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.18 $19.18
$22.25 $22.25
-13.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.88 $4.88
$14.14 $14.14
-65.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$143 $143
$1,373 $1,373
-89.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,301 $4,301
$22.4K $22.4K
-80.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$51.5 $51.5
10.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.65 $39.65
$41.96 $41.96
-5.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 $112
$88.3 $88.3
26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7 $97.7
$112 $112
-12.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 $693
$1,731 $1,731
-59.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$650 $650
$1,446 $1,446
-55.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 $1,105
$2,846 $2,846
-61.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$843 $843
$2,366 $2,366
-64.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,335 $2,335
$3,245 $3,245
-28.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 $1,441
$2,667 $2,667
-45.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Salvador
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 $492
$4,312 $4,312
-88.59%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for United States: October 27, 2025

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