Last update: Oct 2026 6M

Cost of Living in El Salvador

Name: El Salvador
Address: SV

Across El Salvador, living costs for one person average $1,475 a month, including rent and utilities, which take about half of the total. Other living expenses average about $24 a day.

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🇸🇻 El Salvador

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in El Salvador

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in El Salvador actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $1,475 per month with rent on average in El Salvador.

$1,475 /mo

A couple spends around $2,106 per month with rent on average in El Salvador.

$2,106 /mo

A family of three spends around $2,738 per month with rent on average in El Salvador.

$2,738 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.92 $6.92

$3.59 $3.59

$8.20 $8.20

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.34 $44.34

$24.64 $24.64

$78.8 $78.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.15 $6.15

$8.20 $8.20

Cappuccino

$3.47 $3.47

$1.47 $1.47

$4.90 $4.90

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

$1.20 $1.20

$0.77 $0.77

$3.06 $3.06

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.51 $0.51

$2.04 $2.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.28 $1.28

$3.06 $3.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 $3.50

$2.46 $2.46

$4.93 $4.93

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.52 $1.52

$3.07 $3.07

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.47 $1.47

$4.90 $4.90

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.00 $1.00

$2.42 $2.42

Eggs

$2.68 $2.68

$1.78 $1.78

$4.76 $4.76

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.66 $7.66

$3.57 $3.57

$22.51 $22.51

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.30 $2.30

$8.95 $8.95

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.92 $8.92

$5.40 $5.40

$11.76 $11.76

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.87 $1.87

$7.79 $7.79

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.85 $0.85

$2.23 $2.23

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$0.97 $0.97

$4.87 $4.87

Tomato (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$0.99 $0.99

$4.37 $4.37

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.64 $1.64

$4.39 $4.39

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

$1.73 $1.73

$4.33 $4.33

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.48 $0.48

$1.21 $1.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.49 $0.49

$1.95 $1.95

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 $4.09

Wine (Bottle)

$11.76 $11.76

$5.99 $5.99

$14.98 $14.98

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.03 $1.03

$3.08 $3.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.01 $2.01

$3.27 $3.27

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.26 $0.26

$0.94 $0.94

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.39 $35.39

$27.81 $27.81

$60.7 $60.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.96 $4.96

$7.94 $7.94

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.09 $3.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.94 $19.94

$9.97 $9.97

$29.91 $29.91

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 $1.20

$0.97 $0.97

$1.33 $1.33

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$22.3K $22.3K

$26.3K $26.3K

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

$30.4K $30.4K

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

$105 $105

$46.14 $46.14

$204 $204

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

$22.62 $22.62

$11.97 $11.97

$39.92 $39.92

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.67 $40.67

$34.72 $34.72

$49.60 $49.60

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.25 $31.25

$19.96 $19.96

$39.93 $39.93

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.04 $17.04

$10.19 $10.19

$22.30 $22.30

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 $5.05

$5.81 $5.81

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

$166 $166

$104 $104

$207 $207

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,386 $4,386

$2,976 $2,976

$5,952 $5,952

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$25.18 $25.18

$80.6 $80.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.20 $49.20

$29.95 $29.95

$79.9 $79.9

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$74.8 $74.8

$130 $130

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$70.2 $70.2

$150 $150

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 $726

$544 $544

$989 $989

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$650 $650

$398 $398

$1,014 $1,014

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 $1,262

$748 $748

$1,895 $1,895

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$886 $886

$507 $507

$1,824 $1,824

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,685 $2,685

$1,984 $1,984

$3,197 $3,197

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,597 $1,597

$979 $979

$2,543 $2,543

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$438 $438

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.48

5.72

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

Last update: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

El Salvador $1,475

Accommodation & Living

$650 44.1%

Groceries & Markets

$260 17.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$169 11.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$151 10.3%

Eating Out

$144 9.8%

Getting Around

$59 4%

Sport & Entertainment

$41 2.8%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in El Salvador is $568 – below average monthly costs of $1,475. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $244 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $36.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($1,475) is 9% above the global median of $1,350.

Average rent ($310) is 52% below the global median of $652.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($36.00) is 25% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($5.00) is 85% below the global median of $34.00.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

05:47 5:47 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,029,976

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in El Salvador

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Aguilares	21445	39	$682	$811	$1,673	$1,802	29.62	152.85
2	Ahuachapan	110511	89	$680	$1,820	$1,669	$2,199	40.2	112.44
3	Anamoros	16594	39	$681	$810	$1,668	$1,797	104.71	82.63
4	Antiguo Cuscatlan	33767	39	$679	$811	$1,661	$1,792	64.94	170.8
5	Ayutuxtepeque	60000	46	$562	$957	$1,344	$1,847	257.06	140.33
6	Candelaria de la Frontera	6301	39	$681	$813	$1,668	$1,800	118.2	105.41
7	Cojutepeque	48411	39	$683	$811	$1,670	$1,799	49.1	128.44
8	El Congo	8905			$567		$630	26.22	128.21
9	Ilopango	38890	80	$581	$1,617	$1,454	$2,130	216.52	135.31
10	Puerto De La Libertad	16855	40	$700	$829	$1,710	$1,839	110.26	114.59
11	San Miguel	247126	65	$705	$1,339	$1,634	$2,599	205.37	94.11
12	San Salvador	316090	80	$749	$1,658	$1,827	$3,326	102.06	129.66
13	San Vicente	41504	39	$678	$807	$1,661	$1,790	150.14	106.39
14	Santa Ana	167200	50	$714	$1,026	$1,737	$2,225	36.77	133.18
15	Santa Tecla	138695	66	$675	$1,355	$1,638	$2,657	99.06	148.85
16	Sonsonate	59468	56	$682	$1,165	$1,671	$2,296	335.12	127.48
17	Soyapango	329708						178.42	136.43
18	Suchitoto	5735	39	$679	$809	$1,658	$1,789	282.37	124.86
19	Texistepeque	2401		$209	$209	$467	$467	123.39	110.88
20	Zaragoza	11749	31	$590	$635	$1,398	$1,443	131.49	132.27

El Salvador Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in El Salvador - Frequently Asked Questions

El Salvador offers a mix of affordable daily life and authentic experiences, making it appealing for travelers and remote workers who value budget flexibility. In general terms, you'll find lower costs for lodging, local meals, and transportation than in many neighboring countries, though prices can rise in tourist-heavy towns or coastal areas. Cost of Living in El Salvador tends to be seasonal and area-dependent, with rural districts often cheaper than popular beach towns. It suits you if you're flexible about pace and amenities, and you're prepared to balance safety considerations with exploration. Tip: align your stay with a neighborhood that fits your work routine.

Daily life in El Salvador blends practical logistics with warm, local flavor. In housing, you’ll find options in San Salvador's connected districts and quieter coastal towns, where longer leases can reduce monthly costs compared with short stays. Food offers variety: street pupusas, vibrant mercados, and casual eateries help you dine well on a budget. Transport runs on buses, colectivos, and ride-hailing apps, with traffic shifting by day and season. Co-working spaces appear in cities, often with flexible plans for nomads and freelancers. Errands, banking, and healthcare are reliable in urban centers but may be slower in rural pockets. El Salvador living cost. Tip: map a route that minimizes backtracking to save time and money.

Quality of life hinges on daily routine and safety, so choose neighborhoods that balance access to amenities with a relaxed vibe. For budgeting, plan around a core housing area you like, then compare local markets for groceries, and consider cooking at home to cut costs. Seasonal shifts affect travel and entertainment: dry season means beach access is easier but popular places can fill up; rainy season can affect transport and outdoor plans. Focus on flexible workspaces and social networks to cut costs on activities. Tip: set a simple monthly framework that prioritizes essential expenses and leaves room for occasional adventures.

El Salvador is affordable by global standards, though costs vary a lot by region. Smaller cities and rural areas are genuinely cheap, while capitals and tourist spots are pricier – but still below international averages for similar quality.

Rent in El Salvador varies a lot – San Salvador has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across El Salvador, $1,200 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.