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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,496 per month in San Salvador vs $756 in Cojutepeque, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,211 per month in San Salvador vs $1,210 in Cojutepeque, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,925 per month in San Salvador vs $1,663 in Cojutepeque, rent included.

San Salvador costs about 98% more than Cojutepeque, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

San Salvador sits 12% above the global median, while Cojutepeque is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 $8.01

$7.80 $7.80

2.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.37 $35.37

$35.24 $35.24

0.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.91 $6.91

$6.97 $6.97

-0.86%

Cappuccino

$3.24 $3.24

$3.21 $3.21

0.93%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$1.09 $1.09

0.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.85 $0.85

2.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.94 $1.94

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.09 $3.09

-4.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.87 $1.87

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.95 $1.95

2.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.49 $1.49

-0.67%

Eggs

$2.88 $2.88

$2.76 $2.76

4.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$7.06 $7.06

-0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$6.62 $6.62

-1.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 $10.73

$10.65 $10.65

0.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.09 $3.09

5.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.70 $1.70

1.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.51 $2.51

4.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$2.74 $2.74

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.22 $2.22

1.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.21 $2.21

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.03 $1.03

-7.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.08 $1.08

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.91 $3.91

1.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 $10.95

$11.09 $11.09

-1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.76 $1.76

-2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.51 $24.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.63 $5.63

$5.54 $5.54

1.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.10 $3.10

-2.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.90 $19.90

$20.12 $20.12

-1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.03 $1.03

-2.91%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$25.5K $25.5K

1.94%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

-1.97%

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

$104 $104

$102 $102

1.72%

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

$18.89 $18.89

$19.42 $19.42

-2.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.11 $42.11

$41.42 $41.42

1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.65 $31.65

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.34 $20.34

Cinema Ticket

$5.29 $5.29

$5.11 $5.11

3.52%

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

$147 $147

$145 $145

1.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 $5,975

$6,040 $6,040

-1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 $68.0

$67.6 $67.6

0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 $43.13

$43.56 $43.56

-0.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$117 $117

0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$107 $107

-2.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 $844

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 Cojutepeque: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $844 in San Salvador versus $0 in Cojutepeque. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in San Salvador versus $35 in Cojutepeque. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $255 – 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 Cojutepeque: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Salvador costs about 98% more than Cojutepeque, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,244 per month in San Salvador and $1,135 in Cojutepeque. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,496 in San Salvador and $756 in Cojutepeque. 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 $145 in Cojutepeque. 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 Cojutepeque, where all-in costs run around $756, than in San Salvador at $1,496. In Cojutepeque it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Salvador it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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