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

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,121 per month in Mexico vs $883 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,790 per month in Mexico vs $1,275 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,459 per month in Mexico vs $1,666 in El Salvador, rent included.

Mexico costs about 27% more than El Salvador on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Mexico and El Salvador are more affordable than the global median – Mexico 16% lower, El Salvador 34% lower.

Both countries show comparable internal variation: Mexico spans $708–$2,335, El Salvador spans $0–$1,766. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.78 MX$187

$7.59 $7.59

42.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.75 MX$724

$30.22 $30.22

38.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 MX$137

$6.82 $6.82

15.54%

Cappuccino

$3.28 MX$56.8

$3.37 $3.37

-2.67%

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

$1.33 MX$22.97

$1.10 $1.10

20.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 MX$17.09

$0.90 $0.90

10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 MX$40.07

$2.04 $2.04

13.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 MX$74.7

$3.03 $3.03

42.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 MX$25.13

$1.90 $1.90

-23.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 MX$44.27

$2.04 $2.04

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MX$29.24

$1.55 $1.55

9.03%

Eggs

$2.47 MX$42.73

$2.55 $2.55

-3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.38 MX$145

$7.23 $7.23

15.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 MX$130

$5.75 $5.75

30.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 MX$190

$9.93 $9.93

10.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 MX$46.86

$3.33 $3.33

-18.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 MX$26.20

$1.84 $1.84

-17.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 MX$32.08

$2.57 $2.57

-28.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.79

$2.78 $2.78

-35.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.13

$2.40 $2.40

-17.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.19

$2.13 $2.13

-4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 MX$22.85

$0.95 $0.95

38.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MX$18.26

$1.12 $1.12

-6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 MX$74.6

$3.94 $3.94

9.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 MX$201

$10.83 $10.83

7.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 MX$27.79

$1.63 $1.63

-1.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 MX$53.1

$2.41 $2.41

26.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 MX$11.12

$0.37 $0.37

72.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.00 MX$451

$29.08 $29.08

-10.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 MX$44.97

$6.68 $6.68

-61.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 MX$33.40

$3.05 $3.05

-36.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.68 MX$185

$19.80 $19.80

-46.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 MX$22.94

$1.00 $1.00

32.00%

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

$20.2K MX$349.6K

$24.7K $24.7K

-18.42%

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

$22.8K MX$395.9K

$26.2K $26.2K

-12.78%

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

$62.5 MX$1,082

$92.2 $92.2

-32.28%

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

$22.92 MX$397

$19.80 $19.80

15.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.40 MX$492

$41.72 $41.72

-31.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.89 MX$622

$30.55 $30.55

17.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.16 MX$315

$18.87 $18.87

-3.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 MX$80.3

$5.11 $5.11

-9.39%

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

$256 MX$4,433

$140 $140

82.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,566 MX$96.5K

$4,207 $4,207

32.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 MX$919

$57.7 $57.7

-8.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.00 MX$711

$40.42 $40.42

1.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.1 MX$1,613

$112 $112

-16.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 MX$1,498

$95.7 $95.7

-9.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 MX$11.2K

$700 $700

-7.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 MX$7,602

$632 $632

-30.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,202 MX$20.8K

$1,116 $1,116

7.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 MX$15.0K

$855 $855

1.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,796 MX$48.4K

$2,729 $2,729

2.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,604 MX$27.8K

$1,598 $1,598

0.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$835 MX$14.5K

$435 $435

91.64%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $530 in Mexico vs $296 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,000 in Mexico City and $844 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $775 in Mexico vs $571 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 79% higher in Mexico.

Dining out costs 44% more in Mexico.

Public transport is 38% more expensive in Mexico.

Salaries are 36% higher in Mexico.

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

Mexico vs El Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Salvador is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 72% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Mexico, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Mexico consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in El Salvador, contributing to the overall 72% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in El Salvador, but in Mexico it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

El Salvador is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.