Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and El Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and El Salvador

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Mexico is 0.9% cheaper than El Salvador without rent, and 14.5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Mexico is 4.2% more expensive than El Salvador without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.46 MX$198
$7.3 $7.3
43.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.67 MX$807
$30.02 $30.02
42.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.15 MX$154
$7.1 $7.1
14.79%
Cappuccino
$3.32 MX$62.7
$3.37 $3.37
-1.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$24.34
$1.09 $1.09
18.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$18.47
$0.89 $0.89
10.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 MX$44.09
$2.05 $2.05
13.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 MX$80.7
$3.17 $3.17
34.70%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.95
$1.85 $1.85
-17.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 MX$49.42
$2.01 $2.01
29.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$32.3
$1.63 $1.63
4.91%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$46.46
$2.64 $2.64
-6.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.8 MX$166
$7.18 $7.18
22.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.84 MX$148
$5.82 $5.82
34.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 MX$205
$9.45 $9.45
14.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$51.9
$3.43 $3.43
-19.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$1.91 $1.91
-24.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 MX$34.7
$2.48 $2.48
-25.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.8 MX$34.07
$2.67 $2.67
-32.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2 MX$37.78
$2.36 $2.36
-15.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.71
$2.21 $2.21
-7.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 MX$24.02
$0.95 $0.95
33.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MX$19.99
$1.09 $1.09
-2.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$82.3
$4.07 $4.07
6.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$202
$9.91 $9.91
7.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$31.16
$1.63 $1.63
1.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 MX$55.8
$2.48 $2.48
18.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$12.48
$0.36 $0.36
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.9 MX$508
$28.74 $28.74
-6.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 MX$51.2
$6.54 $6.54
-58.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 MX$37.8
$3.05 $3.05
-34.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.54 MX$199
$19.77 $19.77
-46.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.69
$1.03 $1.03
27.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20K MX$377.7K
$24.7K $24.7K
-18.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
-10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 MX$1,177
$90 $90
-30.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$442
$19.99 $19.99
17.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.74 MX$524
$40.97 $40.97
-32.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.15 MX$664
$30.24 $30.24
16.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 MX$339
$19.18 $19.18
-6.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 MX$87.9
$4.88 $4.88
-4.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 MX$4,795
$143 $143
77.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,582 MX$105.5K
$4,301 $4,301
29.77%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$1,006
$56.7 $56.7
-6.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.56 MX$786
$39.65 $39.65
4.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 MX$1,744
$112 $112
-17.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7 MX$1,658
$97.7 $97.7
-10.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 MX$12.3K
$693 $693
-6.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 MX$8,561
$650 $650
-30.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 MX$23.6K
$1,105 $1,105
12.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$856 MX$16.2K
$843 $843
1.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,146 MX$40.6K
$2,335 $2,335
-8.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,480 MX$28K
$1,441 $1,441
2.70%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Mexico
El Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$743 MX$14.1K
$492 $492
51.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
9.05
26.52%

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

Last update for Mexico: October 28, 2025

Last update for El Salvador: October 28, 2025

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