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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in San Salvador versus $762 in San Vicente.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,161 in San Salvador versus $1,213 in San Vicente.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,831 in San Salvador versus $1,664 in San Vicente.

Living in San Salvador is roughly 96% more expensive than San Vicente, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Salvador is 11% above, San Vicente is 43% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 $8.18

$7.79 $7.79

5.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.47 $35.47

$34.84 $34.84

1.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 $7.09

$6.95 $6.95

2.01%

Cappuccino

$3.19 $3.19

$3.24 $3.24

-1.54%

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

$1.14 $1.14

$1.15 $1.15

-0.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.84 $0.84

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.96 $1.96

3.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.04 $3.04

1.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.81 $1.81

-0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.96 $1.96

5.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.55 $1.55

-0.65%

Eggs

$2.90 $2.90

$2.86 $2.86

1.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.13 $7.13

$7.22 $7.22

-1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$6.73 $6.73

2.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 $10.66

$10.71 $10.71

-0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.23 $3.23

-2.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.72 $1.72

1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 $2.58

$2.64 $2.64

-2.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.63 $2.63

2.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.24 $2.24

-4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$2.18 $2.18

-0.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.02 $1.02

-6.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.03 $1.03

3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.04 $4.04

0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 $10.84

$10.81 $10.81

0.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.76 $1.76

-2.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.45 $2.45

2.04%

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

$5.62 $5.62

-2.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.11 $3.11

-2.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.21 $20.21

$20.06 $20.06

0.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.03 $1.03

0.97%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$25.6K $25.6K

-1.09%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$28.2K $28.2K

-1.50%

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

$101 $101

-0.39%

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

$19.05 $19.05

$19.40 $19.40

-1.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.29 $41.29

$41.27 $41.27

0.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.69 $31.69

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.10 $20.10

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 $5.09

$5.19 $5.19

-1.93%

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

$147 $147

-0.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,971 $5,971

$5,949 $5,949

0.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 $66.3

$68.5 $68.5

-3.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.65 $43.65

$43.49 $43.49

0.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 $116

0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$106 $106

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 $827

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 $697

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 $1,454

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 $1,107

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,759 $2,759

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,822 $1,822

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$377 $377

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 San Vicente: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in San Salvador vs $35.00 in San Vicente. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $256, with San Vicente 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 San Vicente: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Vicente wins on cost – living expenses run 96% lower than in San Salvador. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Vicente the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,236 in San Salvador and $1,142 in San Vicente 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.

Childcare runs $147 in San Salvador versus $147 in San Vicente. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in San Vicente – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $35.00 in San Salvador. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $762 in San Vicente versus $1,491 in San Salvador, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Vicente but tight or insufficient in San Salvador. The gap between the two cities makes San Vicente 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.

Safety-wise, San Salvador and San Vicente are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find San Vicente gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in San Salvador. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.