North America · San Salvador
Cost of living in El Salvador
El Salvador is 57% cheaper than the US, ranking #106 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In El Salvador, communication is the priciest category relative to the world (94), while health is the most affordable (54).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $42,500 in El Salvador.
Quality of life
75/100 · #108 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About El Salvador
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is El Salvador expensive to live in?
El Salvador is 57% cheaper than the US, ranking #106 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is communication; health costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in El Salvador?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $42,500 in El Salvador, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is El Salvador cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 42.7, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in El Salvador?
El Salvador scores 75 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#108 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 72 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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