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 $1,265 per month in Mexico vs $949 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,025 per month in Mexico vs $1,377 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,785 per month in Mexico vs $1,805 in El Salvador, rent included.

The cost of living in Mexico is about 33% higher than in 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 8% lower, El Salvador 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.89 MX$202

$6.83 $6.83

74.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.46 MX$788

$45.14 $45.14

2.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.99 MX$169

$7.15 $7.15

39.72%

Cappuccino

$3.80 MX$64.5

$3.63 $3.63

4.68%

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

$1.53 MX$26.00

$1.15 $1.15

33.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 MX$18.64

$0.91 $0.91

20.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 MX$51.3

$2.04 $2.04

48.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.72 MX$80.0

$3.60 $3.60

31.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MX$29.16

$1.75 $1.75

-1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$2.36 $2.36

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$31.73

$1.59 $1.59

17.61%

Eggs

$2.62 MX$44.39

$2.74 $2.74

-4.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 MX$171

$7.35 $7.35

37.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.18 MX$156

$5.98 $5.98

53.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.63 MX$214

$8.96 $8.96

40.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 MX$51.6

$3.89 $3.89

-21.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MX$29.88

$1.79 $1.79

-1.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.14

$2.88 $2.88

-26.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.20

$2.89 $2.89

-26.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 MX$37.43

$2.96 $2.96

-25.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.35

$2.36 $2.36

-6.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 MX$25.34

$0.96 $0.96

55.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 MX$21.15

$0.95 $0.95

31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.00 MX$84.9

$3.89 $3.89

28.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.81 MX$200

$12.01 $12.01

-1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 MX$31.79

$1.95 $1.95

-4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 MX$60.5

$2.85 $2.85

25.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MX$11.79

$0.34 $0.34

102.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 MX$492

$34.50 $34.50

-16.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.90 MX$49.14

$6.54 $6.54

-55.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.98 MX$50.5

$3.09 $3.09

-3.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.83 MX$201

$19.84 $19.84

-40.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.36

$1.16 $1.16

33.62%

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

$22.5K MX$381.3K

$24.8K $24.8K

-9.30%

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

$26.2K MX$444.3K

$27.7K $27.7K

-5.49%

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

$75.6 MX$1,283

$104 $104

-27.16%

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

$25.85 MX$438

$22.39 $22.39

15.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.98 MX$526

$40.24 $40.24

-23.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.98 MX$678

$31.40 $31.40

27.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.05 MX$323

$16.44 $16.44

15.88%

Cinema Ticket

$5.50 MX$93.2

$5.02 $5.02

9.56%

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

$280 MX$4,745

$168 $168

66.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,643 MX$112.7K

$4,493 $4,493

47.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 MX$1,036

$62.9 $62.9

-2.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.80 MX$777

$50.0 $50.0

-8.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MX$1,818

$116 $116

-7.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 MX$1,676

$103 $103

-3.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$764 MX$13.0K

$751 $751

1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$490 MX$8,320

$650 $650

-24.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,462 MX$24.8K

$1,252 $1,252

16.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$966 MX$16.4K

$861 $861

12.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,715 MX$46.1K

$2,659 $2,659

2.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,595 MX$27.1K

$1,559 $1,559

2.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$821 MX$13.9K

$431 $431

90.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.43

8.48

34.79%

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

Last update for Mexico: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $668 in Mexico vs $312 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,148 in Mexico City and $905 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $787 in Mexico vs $567 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 114% higher in Mexico.

Dining out costs 34% more in Mexico.

Public transport is 160% more expensive in Mexico.

Salaries are 39% 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 103% 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 103% 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.