Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Aguilares Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Aguilares

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Ilopango versus $661 in Aguilares.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,859 in Ilopango versus $1,052 in Aguilares.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,090 in Ilopango versus $1,443 in Aguilares.

Living in Ilopango is roughly 146% more expensive than Aguilares, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ilopango is 21% above, Aguilares is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 $3.14

$2.45 $2.45

28.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

$12.03 $12.03

280.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 $5.11

$7.04 $7.04

-27.41%

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

$3.35 $3.35

-13.73%

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

$0.92 $0.92

$0.94 $0.94

-2.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.48 $0.48

93.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.48 $1.48

-35.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.43 $2.43

-28.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.81 $1.81

80.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.05 $2.05

-28.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.49 $1.49

99.33%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$1.82 $1.82

61.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.87 $6.87

-29.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$4.53 $4.53

36.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 $9.81

$10.73 $10.73

-8.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.15 $3.15

-3.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.73 $1.73

13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.14 $2.14

-7.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.74 $2.74

-27.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.23 $2.23

-8.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.17 $2.17

-9.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.99 $0.99

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.04 $1.04

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.97 $3.97

-1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.12 $11.12

6.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.51 $1.51

-35.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.43 $2.43

-18.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.49 $0.49

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.43 $35.43

$64.2 $64.2

-44.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.48 $5.48

25.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.96 $2.96

-23.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

$19.97 $19.97

-75.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.04 $1.04

-35.58%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$17.9K $17.9K

12.18%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$20.5K $20.5K

23.71%

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

$35.57 $35.57

$28.38 $28.38

25.33%

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

$10.10 $10.10

$18.80 $18.80

-46.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 $40.39

$34.76 $34.76

16.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

$20.03 $20.03

100.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

$20.25 $20.25

-50.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

$3.51 $3.51

39.60%

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

$106 $106

$146 $146

-27.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 $1,950

$5,878 $5,878

-66.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 $20.30

$25.36 $25.36

-19.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 $30.27

$27.74 $27.74

9.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$116 $116

-36.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

$104 $104

-43.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$74.3 $74.3

792.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 $593

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 $621

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,698 $1,698

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$963 $963

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$999 $999

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

-30.07%

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

Last update for Ilopango: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aguilares: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Ilopango and $74.3 in Aguilares. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Ilopango vs $12.00 in Aguilares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $238 per month, with Aguilares cheaper across the board.

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

Ilopango vs Aguilares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 146% lower than in Ilopango. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,442 in Ilopango and $992 in Aguilares to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Ilopango versus $74.3 in Aguilares. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,628 per month in Ilopango versus $661 in Aguilares – a 146% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Aguilares runs roughly 81% less than in Ilopango. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Aguilares versus $1,628 in Ilopango, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.