An image showcasing the beauty of San Miguel

People enjoying the surroundings of San Miguel

Cost of living in San Miguel

San Miguel, a vibrant city in El Salvador, offers a unique blend of cultural richness and modern amenities. Understanding the cost of living here is crucial for anyone considering relocation or planning a visit.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of expenses in San Miguel, covering essential categories such as dining, groceries, transportation, housing, and utilities.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $4 on average, with a range between $4 and $15.
Mid-Range Restaurant (Three-Course Meal for Two) - For a more upscale dining experience, expect to pay around $25, with prices ranging from $25 to $60.
Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $6.7, with a range between $6.5 and $8.
Beverages (e.g., Domestic Beer, Imported Beer, Cappuccino, Coke/Pepsi) - Domestic beer ranges from $1 to $3, imported beer $3 to $5, cappuccino $1.5 to $4.5, and Coke/Pepsi $0.75 to $1.5.

Grocery Prices

Milk - Milk is priced between $1.4 and $3.5 per liter, averaging $1.95.
Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs between $1 and $7.72, with an average price of $2.12.
Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs range from $1.8 to $4.6, averaging $3.04.
Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $1 to $5.51 per kg, while oranges range from $0.99 to $4.41 per kg.
Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes are priced between $1 and $3.8 per kg, and lettuce costs $0.5 to $1.5 per head.

Transportation

Public Transport (One-Way Ticket) - A one-way local transport ticket costs $0.35.
Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced between $1.01 and $1.19 per liter.
Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $3, with a cost of $3 to $5 per km and $7 to $20 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $696.15.
1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent averages $502.08.
3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $975.
3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent averages $827.27.
Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - The price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city centre averages $1358.3.
Buying Price per Square Meter (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, the price per square meter averages $962.94.

Utilities

Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost between $90 and $120, averaging $106.6.
Internet - Internet services range from $40 to $45, with an average cost of $42.14.

Worldwide

El Salvador

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for El Salvador are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in El Salvador, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.

Highest to LowestUpdated: Jan, 2025

1. San Salvador

El Salvador

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 3 user contributions, as of the most recent update in November, 2024.

Restaurants

Avg / Range

Restaurants

Avg

Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

$4.00

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

$25.00

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

$6.70

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50

Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61

Cappuccino (regular)

$3.00

Markets

Avg / Range

Markets

Avg

Range

Milk (regular), (1 liter)

$1.95

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)

$2.12

Eggs (regular) (12)

$3.04

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

$15.00

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

$2.50

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.12

Apples (1kg)

$3.18

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57

Potato (1kg)

$2.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93

Rice (white), (1kg)

$1.71

Tomato (1kg)

$2.68

Banana (1kg)

$1.69

Onion (1kg)

$2.15

Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

$9.84

Transportation

Avg / Range

Transportation

Avg

Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

$0.35

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.50

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

$25,000.00

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.00

Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)

$3.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.00

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

$27,666.67

Rent Per Month

Avg / Range

Rent Per Month

Avg

Range

Avg

Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$390.00

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

9.3%

Childcare

Avg / Range

Childcare

Avg

Range

Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child

$160.29

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

$4,350.00

Overview Job Market

San Miguel Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

San Miguel offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to many other cities. Dining out is particularly economical, with inexpensive meals available.
Housing costs are moderate, especially outside the city centre, making it a viable option for those looking to save on rent.
Transportation is very affordable, with low costs for public transport and gasoline, which can significantly reduce monthly expenses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, San Miguel presents a cost-effective living environment with affordable dining, transportation, and housing options.

This makes it an attractive destination for both locals and expatriates seeking a balance between cost and quality of life.

San Miguel

Nearby Cities

We don't have any relevant "Quality of life" data on cities with a 200 mile radius of San Miguel
All cities in El Salvador