Cost of Living Comparison Between San Salvador and Aguilares Cost of Living Comparison Between San Salvador and Aguilares

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in San Salvador versus $661 in Aguilares.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,211 in San Salvador versus $1,033 in Aguilares.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,925 in San Salvador versus $1,404 in Aguilares.

Living in San Salvador is roughly 126% more expensive than Aguilares, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Salvador is 12% above, Aguilares is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 $8.01

$2.47 $2.47

224.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.37 $35.37

$11.95 $11.95

195.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.90 $6.90

0.14%

Cappuccino

$3.24 $3.24

$3.18 $3.18

1.89%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$0.87 $0.87

26.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.52 $0.52

67.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.48 $1.48

32.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.53 $2.53

16.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.85 $1.85

-2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.95 $1.95

2.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.53 $1.53

-3.27%

Eggs

$2.88 $2.88

$1.76 $1.76

63.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$6.95 $6.95

1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$4.52 $4.52

44.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 $10.73

$10.95 $10.95

-2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.21 $3.21

1.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.66 $1.66

4.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.14 $2.14

22.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.66 $2.66

-0.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.22 $2.22

1.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.11 $2.11

4.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.01 $1.01

-5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.03 $1.03

-0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.92 $3.92

0.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 $10.95

$10.83 $10.83

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.47 $1.47

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.42 $2.42

2.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.51 $0.51

-27.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.51 $24.51

$64.0 $64.0

-61.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.63 $5.63

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.00 $3.00

0.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.90 $19.90

$19.62 $19.62

1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.01 $1.01

-0.99%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$18.0K $18.0K

44.16%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

40.28%

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

$104 $104

$27.97 $27.97

271.61%

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

$18.89 $18.89

$19.48 $19.48

-3.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.11 $42.11

$35.63 $35.63

18.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.65 $31.65

$20.02 $20.02

58.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.34 $20.34

$20.23 $20.23

0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.29 $5.29

$3.44 $3.44

53.78%

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

$147 $147

$148 $148

-0.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 $5,975

$5,980 $5,980

-0.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$25.39 $25.39

167.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 $43.13

$27.46 $27.46

57.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$115 $115

2.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$103 $103

0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 $844

$75.4 $75.4

1020.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 $1,464

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 $1,110

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,830 $2,830

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,835 $1,835

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$376 $376

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

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

Last update for San Salvador: April 22, 2026

Last update for Aguilares: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in San Salvador and $75 in Aguilares. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35 in San Salvador vs $12 in Aguilares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $237 per month, with Aguilares 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

San Salvador vs Aguilares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 126% lower than in San Salvador. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,244 in San Salvador and $991 in Aguilares to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $844 in San Salvador versus $75.4 in Aguilares. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in San Salvador versus $661 in Aguilares – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Aguilares runs roughly 161% less than in San Salvador. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Aguilares versus $1,496 in San Salvador, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in San Salvador. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares 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 Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in San Salvador. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.