Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Santa Tecla Cost of Living Comparison Between Ilopango and Santa Tecla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in Ilopango versus $1,375 in Santa Tecla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,859 in Ilopango versus $1,962 in Santa Tecla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,090 in Ilopango versus $2,548 in Santa Tecla.

Living in Ilopango is roughly 18% more expensive than Santa Tecla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ilopango 21% above, Santa Tecla 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 $3.14

$7.81 $7.81

-59.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.76 $45.76

$35.13 $35.13

30.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.11 $5.11

$7.09 $7.09

-27.93%

Cappuccino

$2.89 $2.89

$3.31 $3.31

-12.69%

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

$0.92 $0.92

$1.09 $1.09

-15.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.90 $0.90

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.96 $0.96

$2.04 $2.04

-52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$2.92 $2.92

-40.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.27 $3.27

$1.76 $1.76

85.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.05 $2.05

-28.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.55 $1.55

91.61%

Eggs

$2.94 $2.94

$2.38 $2.38

23.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$6.94 $6.94

-29.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.18 $6.18

$5.62 $5.62

9.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 $9.81

$10.80 $10.80

-9.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.09 $3.09

-1.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.66 $1.66

18.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.62 $2.62

-24.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.62 $2.62

-24.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.26 $2.26

-9.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.13 $2.13

-7.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.00 $1.00

-3.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.07 $1.07

-8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.06 $4.06

-3.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.21 $11.21

5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.71 $1.71

-42.69%

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

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.43 $35.43

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 $6.86

$5.44 $5.44

26.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 $2.25

$3.00 $3.00

-25.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 $4.87

$20.18 $20.18

-75.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.98 $0.98

-31.63%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$25.9K $25.9K

-22.40%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$28.5K $28.5K

-11.02%

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

$35.57 $35.57

$103 $103

-65.37%

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

$10.10 $10.10

$19.19 $19.19

-47.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.39 $40.39

$42.32 $42.32

-4.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.10 $40.10

$24.70 $24.70

62.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.04 $10.04

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 $4.90

$5.11 $5.11

-4.11%

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

$106 $106

$147 $147

-28.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,950 $1,950

$6,045 $6,045

-67.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.30 $20.30

$67.0 $67.0

-69.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 $30.27

$43.92 $43.92

-31.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.7 $73.7

$114 $114

-35.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

$106 $106

-44.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$663 $663

$786 $786

-15.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,010 $1,010

$606 $606

66.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 $593

$1,210 $1,210

-50.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 $621

$913 $913

-32.01%

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

$413 $413

142.25%

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 Santa Tecla: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Ilopango and $786 in Santa Tecla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilopango pays 142% 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 $35.00 in Santa Tecla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $248 per month, with Santa Tecla 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 Santa Tecla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Tecla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ilopango pays 142% 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 $786 in Santa Tecla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $106 in Ilopango versus $147 in Santa Tecla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Santa Tecla – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $46.00 in Ilopango. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,375 in Santa Tecla versus $1,628 in Ilopango, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Tecla but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Tecla 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.

Safety-wise, Ilopango and Santa Tecla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Santa Tecla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.