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 $2,643 per month in United States vs $882 in El Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $1,268 in El Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,070 per month in United States vs $1,653 in El Salvador, rent included.

United States costs about 200% more than El Salvador on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 97% above the global median, while El Salvador is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.04 $20.04

$7.40 $7.40

170.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.0 $76.0

$29.89 $29.89

154.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.42 $11.42

$7.09 $7.09

61.07%

Cappuccino

$5.39 $5.39

$3.46 $3.46

55.78%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$1.14 $1.14

123.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.83 $0.83

145.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.14 $6.14

$1.99 $1.99

208.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.18 $7.18

$3.20 $3.20

124.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.93 $1.93

-46.11%

White Bread (500g)

$3.65 $3.65

$2.04 $2.04

78.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$1.59 $1.59

197.48%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$2.57 $2.57

70.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$7.54 $7.54

69.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$5.75 $5.75

116.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.41 $16.41

$9.90 $9.90

65.76%

Apples (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$3.38 $3.38

60.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.92 $1.92

-14.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.57 $2.57

78.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.68 $2.68

83.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.31 $2.31

26.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$2.16 $2.16

44.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$0.97 $0.97

132.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.09 $1.09

111.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 $9.89

$4.06 $4.06

143.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.10 $15.10

$10.94 $10.94

38.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.64 $1.64

16.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 $3.66

$2.38 $2.38

53.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.34 $0.34

629.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$28.47 $28.47

127.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 $3.84

$6.46 $6.46

-40.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.93 $2.93

-39.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.58 $30.58

$19.79 $19.79

54.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.04 $1.04

-7.69%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$24.6K $24.6K

23.70%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$27.0K $27.0K

-2.23%

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

$204 $204

$90.0 $90.0

126.75%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$19.72 $19.72

190.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$41.19 $41.19

72.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$30.05 $30.05

55.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.12 $22.12

$19.18 $19.18

15.33%

Cinema Ticket

$13.84 $13.84

$4.87 $4.87

184.19%

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

$1,384 $1,384

$141 $141

878.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K $22.7K

$4,238 $4,238

435.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$57.0 $57.0

-7.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.17 $43.17

$39.87 $39.87

8.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.6 $90.6

$110 $110

-17.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$97.8 $97.8

16.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,766 $1,766

$700 $700

152.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,459 $1,459

$640 $640

127.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,832 $2,832

$1,108 $1,108

155.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,411 $2,411

$859 $859

180.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,287 $3,287

$2,744 $2,744

19.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

$1,573 $1,573

68.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,379 $4,379

$439 $439

898.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

9.05

-28.07%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for El Salvador: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,637 in United States vs $293 in El Salvador. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,591 in Washington, DC and $827 in San Salvador.

Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $574 in El Salvador. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 459% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 170% more in United States.

Public transport is 213% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 684% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 267% 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 267% 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.