San Salvador, El Salvador

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Cost of living in San Salvador

Real monthly costs in San Salvador, El Salvador — USD, from the same data behind the Pro model.

Photo: Frankjh, CC BY-SA 3.0.

San Salvador is the cheapest of El Salvador's 2 priced cities — $1,303 a month in essentials, 59% below Santa Ana at $3,169. The average net salary of $380 covers that 0.3×. 87.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at unit level. PM2.5 averages 12.8 µg/m³ a year, 3× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 24°C, Apr 26°C.

Essentials / mo$1,303rent + bills + food + transit
Men per 100 women87.9ages 20–39, unit level
Avg net salary$380monthly, after tax
Safety score46/100higher = safer

Monthly cost breakdown

Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.

ItemMonthly USD
Rent, 1-bed outside centre$770
Rent, 1-bed city centre$899
Groceries$153
Dining out$170
Utilities$172
Local transport$38
Essentials / mo$1,303
Avg net salary$380
Rent, 3-bed outside centre$1,360
Rent, 3-bed city centre$1,810

Single person, USD. Data updated July 29, 2026.

Everyday prices

What single items cost in San Salvador, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.

Eating out

ItemUSD
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$7.00
Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses$43.50
McMeal at McDonald's$7.00
Cappuccino, regular$3.62
Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught$2.00
Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle$3.50
Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L$1.10
Water, 0.33 L bottle$0.83

Groceries

ItemUSD
Milk, 1 L$1.82
White bread, 500 g$2.85
White rice, 1 kg$1.41
Eggs, 12$3.08
Local cheese, 1 kg$7.71
Chicken fillets, 1 kg$6.97
Apples, 1 kg$4.67
Bananas, 1 kg$1.50
Tomatoes, 1 kg$2.97
Potatoes, 1 kg$2.40
Onions, 1 kg$2.49
Water, 1.5 L bottle$0.95

Transport & bills

ItemUSD
One-way ticket, local transport$0.35
Monthly transit pass$37.50
Taxi start$6.00
Taxi, 1 km$3.00
Gasoline, 1 L$1.19
Basic utilities, 85 m² flat$129.92
Internet, 60 Mbps+$42.50
Mobile plan, monthly$21.25

Leisure

ItemUSD
Gym, monthly$31.60
Cinema, one seat$5.00

Dating-age sex ratio

San Salvador has 87.9 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (unit level). That is the 6th-highest of 7 El Salvador cities we track. El Salvador's national figure is 100.2, so San Salvador runs 12 below the country as a whole.

A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.

Climate & air

Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.

Air qualityPM2.5 12.8µg/m³, annual mean
Warmest month26°CApr
Coolest month24°CJan
Wettest month317 mmJun
MonthAvgFeelsHumidityCloudRain
Jan24°C24.7°C59%25%1 mm
Feb24.6°C25.4°C57%21%1 mm
Mar25.7°C27.2°C58%33%8 mm
Apr26°C28.7°C65%49%61 mm
May25.6°C29.2°C74%75%204 mm
Jun24.5°C28.2°C80%85%317 mm
Jul25.4°C28.7°C72%74%172 mm
Aug25.2°C28.7°C74%78%232 mm
Sep24.4°C28.2°C80%83%302 mm
Oct24.2°C27.6°C78%79%231 mm
Nov24.2°C26.4°C70%53%82 mm
Dec24.1°C25.2°C62%30%8 mm

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