Cost of living in El Salvador
Summary of cost of living in El Salvador
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $2,808
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $1,381
- Cost of living in El Salvador is cheaper than in 53% of countries in Latin America (9 out of 17)
- Cost of living in El Salvador is cheaper than in 67% of countries in the World (47 out of 70)
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | $10 | ||
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | $7 | ||
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | $2.16 | ||
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | $2.00 | ||
12 eggs, large | $2.45 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | $1.75 | ||
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | $4.07 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | $2.96 | ||
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | $2.13 | ||
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | $1.33 | ||
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | $17 | ||
2 liters of coca-cola | $1.98 | ||
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | $0.97 | ||
Housing | |||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | $1,143 | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | $675 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | $74 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | $567 | ||
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | $387 | ||
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | $46 | ||
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | $27 | ||
40” flat screen tv | $362 | ||
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | $85 | ||
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | $8 | ||
Hourly rate for cleaning help | $20 | ||
Clothes | |||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | $54 | ||
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | $42 | ||
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | $97 | ||
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | $74 | ||
Transportation | |||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | $16,710 | ||
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | $1.20 | ||
Monthly ticket public transport | $30 | ||
Personal Care | |||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | $6 | ||
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | $15 | ||
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | $32 | ||
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | $5.36 | ||
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | $3.67 | ||
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | $5.85 | ||
4 rolls of toilet paper | $2.22 | ||
Tube of toothpaste | $1.10 | ||
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | $11 | ||
Entertainment | |||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | $17 | ||
2 tickets to the movies | $10 | ||
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | - | ||
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | $39 | ||
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | $7 | ||
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | $4.63 | ||
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | $1.72 | ||
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | $611 | ||
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | $0.16 | ||
1 month of gym membership in business district | $37 | ||
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | $9 |
Map of Cost of Living in El Salvador

This map shows only the top cities in El Salvador. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to El Salvador? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in El Salvador of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in El Salvador
San Salvador | Sonsonate | Usulutan |
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 49% cheaper than in Toronto
- Cost of living in San Salvador is about the same as in Mexico City
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 68% more expensive than in Bucaramanga
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 42% more expensive than in Bogotá
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 19% cheaper than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 43% cheaper than in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 11% cheaper than in Cancún
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 53% more expensive than in Santiago de Cali
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 33% cheaper than in New Haven, Connecticut
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 51% more expensive than in Managua
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 34% more expensive than in Morelia
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 13% cheaper than in Santiago
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 13% more expensive than in Lima
- Cost of living in Sonsonate is 5% more expensive than in Nezahualcóyotl
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 5% cheaper than in La Plata
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 53% cheaper than in Seattle, Washington
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 33% cheaper than in Valletta
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 8% more expensive than in Cape Town
- Cost of living in San Salvador is about the same as in Guatemala City
- Cost of living in San Salvador is 46% cheaper than in Melbourne
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in San Salvador costs $30 (3 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in San Salvador costs $3.50 (3 days ago)
- 1 ticket to the movies in San Salvador costs $10 (3 days ago)
- One-way ticket in public transport in San Salvador costs $0.35 (3 days ago)
- Public transport in San Salvador costs $36 (3 days ago)
- Bread for 2 people for 1 day (250 g) in San Salvador costs $1.00 (3 days ago)
- 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality in San Salvador costs $14 (3 days ago)
- 500 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in San Salvador costs $1.25 (3 days ago)
- Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) in San Salvador costs $7 (3 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in San Salvador costs $1.23 (3 days ago)