MigrantoCost of living in El Salvador
What a month costs, how prices compare with other countries
Monthly cost in El Salvador
Spending runs from $115 a month in the poorest fifth to $942 in the richest
Per person, whole country
$313
what a typical person spends in a month
Spending across the population
$115richest 20%
$942
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Key facts
The cost of living in El Salvador in numbers
The richest fifth spends 8.2× the poorest
Spending runs from $115 a month in the poorest fifth to $942 in the richest, which is #38 of 185 countries by that gap. A single national average hides a lot here.
Typical spending takes 69% of the average wage
A typical person spends $313 a month while the average take-home wage is $452, so 31% of an average wage sits above what a typical person spends.
How living costs in El Salvador compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same monthly figure
What things cost here
How much the same goods and services cost in El Salvador against other countries
Cheaper than 55% of countries
Where El Salvador sits when every country is lined up from cheapest to most expensive
Pakistanmost expensive
Bermuda
middle
A basket of goods and services that costs $1,000 at world-middle prices costs $962 here.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What it costs to live in El Salvador
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Cost of living in El Salvador
$115/mo
vs $800 in your country
Take-home
$277
vs $1,200 in your country
Potential savings
$162
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in El Salvador?
A typical person in El Salvador spends about $313 a month — around $3,756 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the standard of living in El Salvador?
By spending, El Salvador ranks #101 of 185 countries. A typical person spends about $313 a month, the poorest 20% about $115 and the richest 20% about $942. The gap between them shows how unevenly people live.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in El Salvador?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about $115 a month per person, a typical one around $313, and a comfortable life around $461. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
Is the average salary in El Salvador enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about $313 a month, while the average take-home pay in El Salvador is about $452. For more on incomes, see salaries in El Salvador.
Is El Salvador an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. El Salvador is more expensive than 46% of countries worldwide and ranks 28th of 33 in Latin America by cost of living.
What currency is used in El Salvador?
El Salvador uses the US Dollar (USD). Amounts on this page are shown in it; the currency switcher converts them.
Where to live?
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Living in El Salvador
See the full country overview