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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,491 per month in San Salvador vs $1,751 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,161 per month in San Salvador vs $1,900 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,831 per month in San Salvador vs $2,049 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

San Salvador is about 15% cheaper than Ahuachapan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both San Salvador and Ahuachapan sit above the global median – San Salvador by 11%, Ahuachapan by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 $8.18

$8.17 $8.17

0.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.47 $35.47

$35.40 $35.40

0.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 $7.09

$6.92 $6.92

2.46%

Cappuccino

$3.19 $3.19

$3.28 $3.28

-2.74%

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

$1.14 $1.14

$1.09 $1.09

4.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.92 $0.92

-5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.03 $2.03

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.98 $2.98

3.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.85 $1.85

-2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.98 $1.98

4.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.56 $1.56

-1.28%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$2.80 $2.80

3.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.13 $7.13

$7.16 $7.16

-0.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$6.73 $6.73

2.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 $10.66

$11.06 $11.06

-3.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.22 $3.22

-2.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.67 $1.67

4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.52 $2.52

2.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.73 $2.73

-1.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.11 $2.11

2.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.00 $1.00

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.08 $1.08

-0.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.90 $3.90

4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 $10.84

$11.15 $11.15

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.74 $1.74

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.40 $2.40

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.13 $25.13

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.53 $5.53

-0.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.12 $3.12

-2.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.21 $20.21

$19.95 $19.95

1.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

0.41%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$27.8K $27.8K

-0.09%

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

$101 $101

-0.54%

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

$19.05 $19.05

$18.94 $18.94

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 $41.29

$41.26 $41.26

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.69 $31.69

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.10 $20.10

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 $5.09

$5.26 $5.26

-3.23%

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

$147 $147

$146 $146

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,971 $5,971

$5,884 $5,884

1.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 $66.3

$66.5 $66.5

-0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.65 $43.65

$43.79 $43.79

-0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$104 $104

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 $827

$524 $524

57.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 $697

$1,007 $1,007

-30.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 $1,454

$373 $373

289.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

$397 $397

178.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

$3,110 $3,110

-11.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 $1,822

$1,310 $1,310

39.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$377 $377

$566 $566

-33.44%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ahuachapan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $827 in San Salvador versus $524 in Ahuachapan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 50% higher in Ahuachapan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in San Salvador versus $35.00 in Ahuachapan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $257 – making San Salvador the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ahuachapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,491 in San Salvador, $1,751 in Ahuachapan – roughly 17% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,236 per month in San Salvador and $2,626 in Ahuachapan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Salvador, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,491 in San Salvador and $1,751 in Ahuachapan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $147 per month in San Salvador and $146 in Ahuachapan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Salvador, where all-in costs run around $1,491, than in Ahuachapan at $1,751. In San Salvador it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Salvador – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Salvador. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ahuachapan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.