Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and El Salvador Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and El Salvador

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $949 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $1,377 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $1,805 in El Salvador, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 177% higher than in El Salvador on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while El Salvador is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.83 $19.83

$6.83 $6.83

190.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$45.14 $45.14

74.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.19 $12.19

$7.15 $7.15

70.49%

Cappuccino

$5.59 $5.59

$3.63 $3.63

53.99%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.15 $1.15

141.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.91 $0.91

139.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.04 $2.04

187.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.02 $8.02

$3.60 $3.60

122.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.75 $1.75

-38.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$2.36 $2.36

55.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$1.59 $1.59

193.08%

Eggs

$4.20 $4.20

$2.74 $2.74

53.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.78 $12.78

$7.35 $7.35

73.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.40 $12.40

$5.98 $5.98

107.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.90 $16.90

$8.96 $8.96

88.62%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$3.89 $3.89

34.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.79 $1.79

-7.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$2.88 $2.88

50.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.89 $2.89

71.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.96 $2.96

-4.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.36 $2.36

31.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$0.96 $0.96

128.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.95 $0.95

137.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.35 $10.35

$3.89 $3.89

166.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.01 $12.01

23.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.95 $1.95

7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.85 $2.85

28.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$0.34 $0.34

600.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.5 $64.5

$34.50 $34.50

86.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 $3.54

$6.54 $6.54

-45.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 $1.86

$3.09 $3.09

-39.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.34 $30.34

$19.84 $19.84

52.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.16 $1.16

-13.79%

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

$35.5K $35.5K

$24.8K $24.8K

43.40%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$27.7K $27.7K

-6.66%

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

$222 $222

$104 $104

113.97%

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

$61.1 $61.1

$22.39 $22.39

173.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$40.24 $40.24

85.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.49 $44.49

$31.40 $31.40

41.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.35 $22.35

$16.44 $16.44

35.95%

Cinema Ticket

$15.03 $15.03

$5.02 $5.02

199.40%

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

$1,431 $1,431

$168 $168

753.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$4,493 $4,493

476.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.6 $53.6

$62.9 $62.9

-14.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$50.0 $50.0

-13.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 $91.5

$116 $116

-21.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$103 $103

10.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,633 $1,633

$751 $751

117.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 $1,328

$650 $650

104.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,252 $1,252

108.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 $2,206

$861 $861

156.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,323 $3,323

$2,659 $2,659

25.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,653 $2,653

$1,559 $1,559

70.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,306 $4,306

$431 $431

898.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

8.48

-26.77%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $312 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $905 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $567 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 414% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 114% more in United States.

Public transport is 440% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 698% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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

United States vs El Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Salvador is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 248% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in El Salvador, contributing to the overall 248% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$3,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in El Salvador, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

El Salvador is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.