Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Tecla and Ilopango Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Tecla and Ilopango

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $1,662 in Ilopango.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,013 in Santa Tecla versus $1,904 in Ilopango.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,639 in Santa Tecla versus $2,146 in Ilopango.

Living in Santa Tecla costs roughly 17% less than in Ilopango, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santa Tecla 1% above, Ilopango 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.16 $7.16

$3.14 $3.14

128.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.78 $43.78

$45.85 $45.85

-4.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.87 $6.87

$5.04 $5.04

36.31%

Cappuccino

$3.51 $3.51

$2.96 $2.96

18.58%

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

$1.15 $1.15

$0.88 $0.88

30.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.92 $0.92

-5.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.90 $0.90

118.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.67 $1.67

115.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 $1.67

$3.18 $3.18

-47.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.46 $1.46

54.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$3.05 $3.05

-55.08%

Eggs

$2.27 $2.27

$3.05 $3.05

-25.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 $7.65

$5.06 $5.06

51.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$5.88 $5.88

-8.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.22 $10.22

$10.16 $10.16

0.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.02 $3.02

4.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.06 $2.06

-25.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 $2.89

$1.95 $1.95

48.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.03 $2.03

43.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.94 $1.94

25.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.03 $2.03

19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.99 $0.99

5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.99 $0.99

-2.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.99 $3.99

$4.11 $4.11

-2.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 $12.15

$12.04 $12.04

0.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.98 $0.98

122.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.97 $1.97

45.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 $0.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.64 $35.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 $6.09

$7.18 $7.18

-15.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.23 $2.23

31.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.79 $19.79

$4.90 $4.90

303.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.67 $0.67

82.09%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$20.3K $20.3K

23.90%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

4.84%

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

$130 $130

$35.52 $35.52

265.40%

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

$21.56 $21.56

$9.95 $9.95

116.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.03 $43.03

$39.43 $39.43

9.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.54 $24.54

$40.37 $40.37

-39.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.93 $9.93

Cinema Ticket

$5.10 $5.10

$5.06 $5.06

0.79%

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

$164 $164

$106 $106

54.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,762 $4,762

$1,923 $1,923

147.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 $66.4

$20.08 $20.08

230.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.83 $46.83

$30.49 $30.49

53.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 $121

$74.3 $74.3

62.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$60.2 $60.2

95.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 $763

$664 $664

14.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 $586

$1,001 $1,001

-41.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 $1,224

$581 $581

110.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$903 $903

$619 $619

45.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,729 $1,729

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$946 $946

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$414 $414

$1,014 $1,014

-59.23%

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 Santa Tecla: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ilopango: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Santa Tecla and $664 in Ilopango. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilopango pays 145% 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: $44.00 in Santa Tecla vs $46.00 in Ilopango. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 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

Santa Tecla vs Ilopango: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Tecla is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 145% 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: $763 in Santa Tecla versus $664 in Ilopango. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $164 in Santa Tecla versus $106 in Ilopango. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Santa Tecla – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $46.00 in Ilopango. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $1,662 in Ilopango, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Tecla but tight or insufficient in Ilopango. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Tecla 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, Santa Tecla and Ilopango 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 Santa Tecla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ilopango. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.