Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Ayutuxtepeque Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Ayutuxtepeque

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Ilopango versus $951 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,859 in Ilopango versus $1,389 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,090 in Ilopango versus $1,828 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Living in Ilopango is roughly 71% more expensive than Ayutuxtepeque, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ilopango is 21% above, Ayutuxtepeque is 29% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 $3.14

$7.83 $7.83

-59.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

$29.61 $29.61

54.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.03 $5.03

1.59%

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

$3.17 $3.17

-8.83%

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

$0.92 $0.92

$0.66 $0.66

39.39%

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

$1.32 $1.32

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$3.08 $3.08

-43.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.39 $1.39

135.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.48 $1.48

-1.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$0.98 $0.98

203.06%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$2.39 $2.39

23.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$7.07 $7.07

-31.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.50 $5.50

12.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 $9.81

$8.99 $8.99

9.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.26 $3.26

-6.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.70 $1.70

15.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.17 $2.17

-8.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.71 $2.71

-26.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.63 $1.63

25.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.19 $2.19

-10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.63 $0.63

53.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.03 $1.03

-4.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.08 $4.08

-4.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$6.04 $6.04

96.19%

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

$2.53 $2.53

-22.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 $0.56

$0.34 $0.34

64.71%

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

$3.07 $3.07

-26.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

$20.35 $20.35

-76.07%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

-22.31%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$27.8K $27.8K

-8.76%

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

$35.57 $35.57

$93.1 $93.1

-61.79%

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

$10.10 $10.10

$19.45 $19.45

-48.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 $40.39

$34.96 $34.96

15.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

$14.76 $14.76

171.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

$5.34 $5.34

-8.24%

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

$106 $106

$146 $146

-27.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 $1,950

$3,000 $3,000

-34.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 $20.30

$24.65 $24.65

-17.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 $30.27

$30.34 $30.34

-0.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$117 $117

-37.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

$74.9 $74.9

-21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$148 $148

348.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

$299 $299

237.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 $593

$408 $408

45.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 $621

$394 $394

57.75%

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

$425 $425

135.27%

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 Ayutuxtepeque: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Ilopango and $148 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilopango pays 135% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Ilopango vs $30.00 in Ayutuxtepeque for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $215 per month, with Ayutuxtepeque 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 Ayutuxtepeque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ayutuxtepeque wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Ilopango. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayutuxtepeque the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Ilopango pays 135% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Ilopango versus $148 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $106 in Ilopango versus $146 in Ayutuxtepeque. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ayutuxtepeque – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $46.00 in Ilopango. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $951 in Ayutuxtepeque versus $1,628 in Ilopango, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayutuxtepeque but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes Ayutuxtepeque 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 Ayutuxtepeque gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.