Cost of living comparison
El Salvador is 42.2% more expensive than Nicaragua overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 30.1% more in El Salvador
- Groceries
-
pay 22.3% more in El Salvador
- Transportation
-
pay 2.2 times more in El Salvador
- Housing
-
pay 50.3% more in El Salvador
- Childcare
-
pay 0.1% more in El Salvador
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 22.4% more in El Salvador
- Clothing
-
pay 54.1% more in El Salvador
The cost of transportation, clothing, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries in El Salvador are more expensive than in Nicaragua. Notably, transportation is significantly more expensive in El Salvador.
If you lived in El Salvador instead of Nicaragua, you would:
pay 30.1% more for restaurants
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$4.15
NIO152.77
|
$7.50
SVC65.62
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.48
NIO201.53
|
$6.33
SVC55.39
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
NIO35.01
|
$0.96
SVC8.39
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.66
NIO24.10
|
$0.81
SVC7.07
|
|
pay 22.3% more for groceries
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.43
NIO52.74
|
$2.12
SVC18.55
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$2.35
NIO86.57
|
$3.24
SVC28.32
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.24
NIO156.00
|
$6.95
SVC60.84
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.88
NIO69.14
|
$2.80
SVC24.47
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.20
NIO81.11
|
$2.68
SVC23.48
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.80
NIO102.98
|
$1.44
SVC12.62
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
NIO22.13
|
$0.77
SVC6.72
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.72
NIO63.26
|
$1.17
SVC10.20
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.65
NIO24.09
|
$1.22
SVC10.64
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.08
NIO39.75
|
$0.99
SVC8.69
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.97
NIO35.80
|
$0.98
SVC8.53
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for transportation
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.15
NIO189.40
|
$3.80
SVC33.23
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$30.05
NIO1,105.63
|
$20.00
SVC175.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$18,168.72
NIO668,447.39
|
$24,333.33
SVC212,912.26
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$5.42
NIO199.30
|
$31.95
SVC279.57
|
|
pay 50.3% more for housing
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$44.72
NIO1,645.44
|
$42.14
SVC368.74
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$308.00
NIO11,331.74
|
$652.78
SVC5,711.69
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$281.86
NIO10,370.03
|
$463.89
SVC4,058.94
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$52.83
NIO1,943.53
|
$69.00
SVC603.77
|
|
pay 0.1% more for childcare
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$112.78
NIO4,149.22
|
$160.29
SVC1,402.47
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,900.00
NIO364,231.99
|
$5,740.67
SVC50,229.79
|
|
pay 22.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.22
NIO44.80
|
$2.00
SVC17.50
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.28
NIO83.88
|
$2.82
SVC24.69
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.97
NIO109.13
|
$4.00
SVC35.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$26.12
NIO961.16
|
$30.22
SVC264.44
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.30
NIO268.48
|
$5.33
SVC46.67
|
|
pay 54.1% more for clothing
|
Nicaragua
|
El Salvador
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$42.40
NIO1,560.02
|
$72.14
SVC631.24
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.36
NIO1,484.85
|
$47.86
SVC418.74
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$58.79
NIO2,163.01
|
$112.14
SVC981.23
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$79.04
NIO2,907.91
|
$108.33
SVC947.90
|
|
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