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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,628 in San Salvador versus $1,662 in Ilopango.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,448 in San Salvador versus $1,904 in Ilopango.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,267 in San Salvador versus $2,146 in Ilopango.

Living in San Salvador costs roughly 2% less than in Ilopango, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Salvador 19% above, Ilopango 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.90 $6.90

$3.14 $3.14

119.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.49 $43.49

$45.85 $45.85

-5.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 $6.84

$5.04 $5.04

35.71%

Cappuccino

$3.62 $3.62

$2.96 $2.96

22.30%

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

$1.16 $1.16

$0.88 $0.88

31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.92 $0.92

-5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.90 $0.90

127.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$1.67 $1.67

103.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 $1.77

$3.18 $3.18

-44.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.46 $1.46

97.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.05 $3.05

-52.79%

Eggs

$3.05 $3.05

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.90 $7.90

$5.06 $5.06

56.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 $6.92

$5.88 $5.88

17.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 $10.37

$10.16 $10.16

2.07%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 $5.08

$3.02 $3.02

68.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.06 $2.06

-28.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.95 $1.95

50.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.03 $2.03

73.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.94 $1.94

53.61%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$2.03 $2.03

63.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.99 $0.99

-4.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.11 $4.11

-4.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.24 $12.24

$12.04 $12.04

1.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.98 $0.98

128.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.97 $1.97

50.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.92 $0.92

-60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 $36.96

$35.64 $35.64

3.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 $6.03

$7.18 $7.18

-16.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.23 $2.23

38.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.97 $19.97

$4.90 $4.90

307.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.67 $0.67

82.09%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$20.3K $20.3K

21.95%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$26.1K $26.1K

3.07%

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

$132 $132

$35.52 $35.52

270.86%

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

$21.62 $21.62

$9.95 $9.95

117.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.75 $41.75

$39.43 $39.43

5.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.02 $32.02

$40.37 $40.37

-20.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.90 $21.90

$9.93 $9.93

120.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 $5.10

$5.06 $5.06

0.79%

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

$161 $161

$106 $106

51.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,667 $4,667

$1,923 $1,923

142.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 $67.4

$20.08 $20.08

235.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.35 $47.35

$30.49 $30.49

55.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$74.3 $74.3

59.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$60.2 $60.2

97.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$885 $885

$664 $664

33.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$782 $782

$1,001 $1,001

-21.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,831 $1,831

$581 $581

215.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,368 $1,368

$619 $619

121.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,797 $2,797

$1,729 $1,729

61.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,847 $1,847

$946 $946

95.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$378 $378

$1,014 $1,014

-62.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

41.67%

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

Last update for San Salvador: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ilopango: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $885 in San Salvador and $664 in Ilopango. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilopango pays 168% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43.00 in San Salvador vs $46.00 in Ilopango. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $250, with Ilopango cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ilopango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Salvador is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 168% lower in Ilopango. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $885 in San Salvador versus $664 in Ilopango. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $161 in San Salvador versus $106 in Ilopango. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Ilopango pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,628 in San Salvador versus $1,662 in Ilopango, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Salvador but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes San Salvador 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 San Salvador gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.