Travel budget in El Salvador

El Salvador: calculate your travel budget

El Salvador: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in El Salvador for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 61 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 12 per person
  • $ 1.3 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1193*

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 111 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 21 per person
  • $ 19 per person
  • $ 4.9 per person

Total budget:

$ 2793*

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 122 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 32 per person
  • $ 48 per person
  • $ 10 per person

Total budget:

$ 4204*

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in El Salvador in 2024

Cost of living: El Salvador VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in El Salvador in 2024 is 25% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in El Salvador by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in El Salvador compared to the national average.

Cities /El Salvador View Details
Atiquizaya 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Atiquizaya
Zacatecoluca 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Zacatecoluca
San Francisco Menendez 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in San Francisco Menendez
Cojutepeque 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Cojutepeque
Chinameca 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Chinameca
Intipuca 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Intipuca
San Salvador 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in San Salvador
Mejicanos 3% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Mejicanos

Show all cities (7 more)




Local prices in El Salvador by expense type

El Salvador: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in El Salvador costs 50% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 7.9/person
($ 3.2 to $ 15)

60% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 17/person
($ 13 to $ 30)

56% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 6.8/person
($ 5.9 to $ 7.9)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 2 for 500ml
($ 0.9 to $ 2.9)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.4 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 2.9)

31% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.3/cup
($ 1.5 to $ 4.9)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 1.1/can
($ 0.7 to $ 2)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.8/bottle
($ 0.6 to $ 1.5)

57% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

El Salvador: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in El Salvador costs 45% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 85/night
($ 37 to $ 233)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 96/night
($ 43 to $ 245)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 125/night
($ 52 to $ 321)

43% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 124/night
($ 58 to $ 395)

59% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 304
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 120/night
($ 53 to $ 413)

72% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 435
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 114/month
($ 39 to $ 372)

29% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 128/month
($ 45 to $ 351)

45% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 236
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 137/month
($ 47 to $ 370)

32% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 80/month
($ 36 to $ 221)

63% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220
Family room
Family room
$ 164/month
($ 57 to $ 445)

18% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 201

El Salvador: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in El Salvador costs 27% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 2/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 3.5)

90% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 2/500g
($ 0.9 to $ 7.6)

42% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Rice
Rice
$ 1.7/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 2.3)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 2.6/12 eggs
($ 1.8 to $ 3.8)

28% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Chicken
Chicken
$ 5.4/kg
($ 2.2 to $ 7.6)

54% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.8 to $ 4.3)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 2.6/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 4.3)

44% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 2.3/kg
($ 0.9 to $ 3.9)

19% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.1
($ 0.7 to $ 1.5)

50% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

El Salvador: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in El Salvador is 16% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 0.3/ticket
($ 0.3 to $ 0.9)

85% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 2.9/km
($ 2.9 to $ 4.9)

74% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 1.2)

9% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 6.4
($ 2.9 to $ 10)

77% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Car hire
Car hire
$ 73/24hrs
($ 50 to $ 132)

3% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

El Salvador: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in El Salvador costs 36% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 4.9/ticket
($ 4.9 to $ 6.4)

64% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 19/hr
($ 15 to $ 23)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

El Salvador: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in El Salvador costs 9% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 3.9/pack
($ 3.8 to $ 4.4)

60% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 67
($ 26 to $ 74)

29% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 45
($ 30 to $ 79)

4% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

Los Angeles → San Salvador
Los Angeles  → San Salvador
Los Angeles  → San Salvador
$ 354
(fair price: $ 280)
Montreal → San Salvador
Montreal → San Salvador
Montreal → San Salvador
$ 542
(fair price: $ 453)
New York City → San Salvador
New York City → San Salvador
New York City → San Salvador
$ 362
(fair price: $ 284)
Toronto → San Salvador
Toronto → San Salvador
Toronto → San Salvador
$ 546
(fair price: $ 441)
London → San Salvador
London → San Salvador
London → San Salvador
$ 761
(fair price: $ 661)
Atlanta → San Salvador
Atlanta → San Salvador
Atlanta → San Salvador
$ 463
(fair price: $ 308)

Book a flight Flight prices to Salvador




About the information on the cost of living in El Salvador

The information about the cost of living in El Salvador shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in El Salvador updated on 12-11-2024.

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