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: $1,614 in Ilopango versus $951 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,880 in Ilopango versus $1,383 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,147 in Ilopango versus $1,815 in Ayutuxtepeque.

Living in Ilopango is roughly 70% more expensive than in Ayutuxtepeque, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ilopango is 18% above, Ayutuxtepeque is 30% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 $3.12

$6.97 $6.97

-55.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.85 $45.85

$30.12 $30.12

52.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.98 $4.98

1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

$3.58 $3.58

-19.27%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$0.67 $0.67

35.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.52 $0.52

78.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.34 $1.34

-29.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$3.01 $3.01

-44.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.42 $1.42

129.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.49 $1.49

-3.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.99 $0.99

207.07%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$2.46 $2.46

19.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 $4.94

$7.49 $7.49

-34.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.64 $5.64

4.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 $10.10

$8.70 $8.70

16.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.35 $3.35

-12.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.53 $1.53

33.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.18 $2.18

-6.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$3.47 $3.47

-42.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.63 $1.63

21.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.15 $2.15

-8.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.66 $0.66

39.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.99 $0.99

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.02 $4.02

$3.88 $3.88

3.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.23 $12.23

$5.93 $5.93

106.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.46 $1.46

-32.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.48 $2.48

-20.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.36 $0.36

161.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.66 $35.66

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.93 $6.93

$6.06 $6.06

14.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.95 $2.95

-24.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 $4.78

$20.05 $20.05

-76.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.21 $1.21

-48.76%

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

$20.3K $20.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

-19.17%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$27.5K $27.5K

-6.31%

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

$35.70 $35.70

$94.8 $94.8

-62.35%

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

$10.07 $10.07

$19.63 $19.63

-48.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.85 $39.85

$35.16 $35.16

13.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.94 $39.94

$14.95 $14.95

167.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.94 $9.94

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 $5.12

$5.06 $5.06

1.19%

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

$107 $107

$160 $160

-33.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,889 $1,889

$3,040 $3,040

-37.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.94 $19.94

$25.18 $25.18

-20.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.59 $30.59

$29.91 $29.91

2.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 $73.6

$117 $117

-36.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 $59.8

$74.2 $74.2

-19.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$151 $151

339.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,023 $1,023

$303 $303

237.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 $584

$395 $395

48.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 $624

$403 $403

54.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,715 $1,715

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$971 $971

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,001 $1,001

$426 $426

134.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

-29.41%

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

Last update for Ilopango: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ayutuxtepeque: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Ilopango and $151 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 $219 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 70% 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.

Average pay runs 135% higher in Ilopango, 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 $151 in Ayutuxtepeque. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $107 in Ilopango versus $160 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 $1,614 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 70% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.