Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Salvador and Candelaria de la Frontera

For one person, living is cheaper in Candelaria de la Frontera: $810 a month against $1,629 in San Salvador, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in San Salvador
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San Salvador Living Index
39

Cost of Living Index in Candelaria de la Frontera
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Candelaria de la Frontera Living Index

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San Salvador

🇸🇻 El Salvador

$1,629

/mo nomad

Candelaria de la Frontera

🇸🇻 El Salvador

$810

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Salvador and in Candelaria de la Frontera

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Salvador and in Candelaria de la Frontera actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,629 per month in San Salvador vs $810 in Candelaria de la Frontera, rent included.

San Salvador $1,629
Candelaria de la Frontera $810

A couple spends around $2,449 per month in San Salvador vs $1,301 in Candelaria de la Frontera, rent included.

San Salvador $2,449
Candelaria de la Frontera $1,301

A family of three spends $3,269 per month in San Salvador vs $1,792 in Candelaria de la Frontera, rent included.

San Salvador $3,269
Candelaria de la Frontera $1,792

San Salvador costs about 101% more than Candelaria de la Frontera, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

San Salvador sits 20% above the global median, while Candelaria de la Frontera is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.58 $6.58

$6.77 $6.77

-2.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.57 $44.57

$44.12 $44.12

1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.18 $7.18

-1.67%

Cappuccino

$3.62 $3.62

$3.63 $3.63

-0.28%

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

$1.13 $1.13

$1.12 $1.12

0.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.85 $0.85

-7.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.04 $2.04

-3.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$3.63 $3.63

-3.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 $1.79

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.77 $2.77

5.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

Eggs

$2.99 $2.99

$3.03 $3.03

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.48 $7.48

4.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$6.94 $6.94

-0.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 $10.07

$10.06 $10.06

0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.93 $4.93

$5.11 $5.11

-3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.65 $2.65

-4.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.43 $3.43

3.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$3.02 $3.02

-1.32%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.22 $3.22

1.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.96 $0.96

-3.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.99 $3.99

1.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.89 $11.89

-1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.24 $2.24

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.82 $2.82

3.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 $14.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.06 $6.06

-1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.98 $2.98

2.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.88 $19.88

$19.90 $19.90

-0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.28 $1.28

-2.34%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$25.0K $25.0K

1.68%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.9K $26.9K

-0.75%

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

$129 $129

$128 $128

0.35%

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

$20.87 $20.87

$21.23 $21.23

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.10 $42.10

$42.61 $42.61

-1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.34 $29.34

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.36 $21.36

Cinema Ticket

$5.13 $5.13

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

$161 $161

$162 $162

-0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,729 $4,729

$4,749 $4,749

-0.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 $66.4

$68.2 $68.2

-2.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.50 $47.50

$46.53 $46.53

2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$119 $119

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$118 $118

-0.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$893 $893

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$776 $776

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,792 $1,792

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,366 $1,366

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,817 $2,817

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,839 $1,839

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$376 $376

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

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

Last update for San Salvador: October 26, 2026

Last update for Candelaria de la Frontera: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

San Salvador

$776 47.7%

Candelaria de la Frontera

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

San Salvador

$285 17.5%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$284 35% 0.4% $1.1

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Salvador

$192 11.8%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$192 23.7% 0.2% $0.4

Clothing & Footwear

San Salvador

$158 9.7%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$158 19.6% 0.3% $0.4

Eating Out

San Salvador

$142 8.7%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$145 17.8% 1.9% $2.8

Sport & Entertainment

San Salvador

$40 2.4%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$10 * 1.3% 74.1% $29

Getting Around

San Salvador

$37 2.3%

Candelaria de la Frontera

$21 * 2.6% 43.6% $16

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45 in San Salvador versus $44 in Candelaria de la Frontera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $284 – making Candelaria de la Frontera the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇸🇻 San Salvador

🇸🇻 Candelaria de la Frontera

🕒 Local time

22:06 10:06 PM

Same time as San Salvador

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

316,090 Capital

6,301

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.898 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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San Salvador Candelaria de la Frontera 68 km

From you

San Salvador
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Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Candelaria de la Frontera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Salvador costs about 101% more than Candelaria de la Frontera, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,444 per month in San Salvador and $1,215 in Candelaria de la Frontera. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,629 in San Salvador and $810 in Candelaria de la Frontera. That makes Candelaria de la Frontera about 50% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $161 per month in San Salvador and $162 in Candelaria de la Frontera. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,629 in San Salvador and $810 in Candelaria de la Frontera. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. San Salvador has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $810 in Candelaria de la Frontera to $1,629 in San Salvador. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.