Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Antiguo Cuscatlan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Antiguo Cuscatlan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,628 per month in Ilopango vs $744 in Antiguo Cuscatlan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,859 per month in Ilopango vs $1,200 in Antiguo Cuscatlan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,090 per month in Ilopango vs $1,656 in Antiguo Cuscatlan, rent included.

Ilopango costs about 119% more than Antiguo Cuscatlan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ilopango sits 21% above the global median, while Antiguo Cuscatlan is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 $3.14

$8.07 $8.07

-61.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

$34.61 $34.61

32.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 $5.11

$7.04 $7.04

-27.41%

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

$3.26 $3.26

-11.35%

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

$0.92 $0.92

$1.15 $1.15

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.84 $0.84

10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.98 $1.98

-51.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.04 $3.04

-43.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.88 $1.88

73.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.98 $1.98

-26.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.56 $1.56

90.38%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$2.80 $2.80

5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.95 $6.95

-29.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$6.85 $6.85

-9.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 $9.81

$10.69 $10.69

-8.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.24 $3.24

-6.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.66 $1.66

18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.58 $2.58

-23.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.70 $2.70

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.25 $2.25

-9.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.11 $2.11

-6.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.00 $1.00

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.02 $1.02

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.11 $4.11

-4.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.11 $11.11

6.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.77 $1.77

-44.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.50 $2.50

-21.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 $0.56

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.43 $35.43

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.65 $5.65

21.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.11 $3.11

-27.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

$19.94 $19.94

-75.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.00 $1.00

-33.00%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

-20.88%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$27.7K $27.7K

-8.42%

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

$35.57 $35.57

$105 $105

-66.05%

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

$10.10 $10.10

$19.31 $19.31

-47.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 $40.39

$41.39 $41.39

-2.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

$5.22 $5.22

-6.13%

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

$106 $106

$144 $144

-26.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 $1,950

$5,955 $5,955

-67.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 $20.30

$68.2 $68.2

-70.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 $30.27

$42.63 $42.63

-28.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$116 $116

-36.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

$104 $104

-43.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$591 $591

12.16%

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 Antiguo Cuscatlan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $663 in Ilopango versus $591 in Antiguo Cuscatlan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Ilopango versus $35.00 in Antiguo Cuscatlan. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Ilopango vs $257 in Antiguo Cuscatlan – so Ilopango wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Antiguo Cuscatlan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,628 in Ilopango, $744 in Antiguo Cuscatlan – roughly 119% apart. Ilopango costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,442 per month in Ilopango and $1,115 in Antiguo Cuscatlan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Antiguo Cuscatlan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Ilopango and $35.00 in Antiguo Cuscatlan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Ilopango – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Antiguo Cuscatlan, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Ilopango at $1,628. In Antiguo Cuscatlan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ilopango it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Antiguo Cuscatlan has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $744 in Antiguo Cuscatlan to $1,628 in Ilopango. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Antiguo Cuscatlan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ilopango makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.