Cost of living in El Salvador

As of the moment here is the average COL:

Bus Fare - 0.20 cents.

Taxi - 3-4 dollars within the city, for 70+KM around 10 or 20 dollars.

Clubs - Cover is 3 dollars and includes 1 free beer.

Apartments - In San Salvador 200-300 dollars.  In other areas between 125-175.  American-style in colonia escalon are 800-1300. (USD).

Houses - Same, 1000 range in San Salvador.  Outside, you can rent a house for 150-300 typically.

Electricity - 0.13 KWh, about the same as in most of the US.  If you just run a refirdge and 3 light bulbs, it'll cost around 8 dollars a month or less.  A full but responsable 3 person household - 30-40 dollars.  If you use electricity as you would in the USA,  same price as here, 130-150 month.

Water - Many areas dont pay water, it's all wells.  In the City... it can range from 4-5 dollars.  Large water bottles (the ones you use at water despensers here) of clean water range from 2-3 dollars.

Gasoline - 3.00 a gallon for regular.  Premium is hard to find.  Diesel is most common and is 2.55 gallon.

Food - If you shop at a "despensa"/super-market expect mostly american prices, slightly cheaper.  A bottle of coke is 1.40 for a 2 LITER.  or 2 for 2.00.  A pound of tomatoes is 0.39 cents.  But if you buy fruits, rice, beans they are very very cheap.  An individual egg costs 0.15 cents.  24 for 3.00.  A bag of pasta is 0.60 cents.  A jar of ragu sauce is 4.00. 

Cleaning Supplies - Same prices as here, american brands like lysol windex are more expensive.

Shoes/Clothes - 5-6 for a pair of shoes, for american or name brands same or higher prices than here.

Electronics - 30-40% higher than US prices, especially irons, blenders, Televisions and A/C.

Cars - Same as US prices, even used.

Pets - Pure breed dogs like huskies, cheaper 125 on average versus 400 in the US.

Beer - if you recycle the bottles, 0.60 per bottle, if not, 1.00+.  Imported such as coroner is 2.00 +.  Drink national beer like Golden or Pilsner.

Cooking Utensils/Plates/Etc  - Cheaper.  A knife for a dollar, a bowl for 0.60 cents.  Skillet for 2 dollars.

Building Supplies - 1/15th of US price.

Labor - Average construct. crew of 8 makes 300 per week.

Hotels - Decent w/ hot water and A/C about 40 a night in San Salvador.  American Chains about 80 to 120 a night.  Nice hotel with AC and TV but no hot water - 20 a night.  Just AC no private bathroom, 7 a night.

Hi everyone,
I have been living here for 7 years, most of that time in Santa Ana.
Also, keep in mind the prices for foreigners are much, much higher. So if you have local friends or contacts, these prices could be so much lower, especially for housing and most of the smaller hotels.

accommodation prices
Santa Ana:       near downtown: 1 room with bathroon: $50 incuding water, 3 room house outside downtown: $80 and up includes nothing. Other houses are $400 and (way) up to $700 or $800 (depends on where it is (Santa Ana in big))   
        Hotels: vary $30 and up for a halfway decent hotel, some are $50 (depends on needs), many are by the hour or $10 a night (not so nice) and up. Hotel Tolteka is the best in my opinion
Santa Tecla:    near La Gran Via (mall) and San Salvador 1 semi-private room (need to walk through the house to get to the front door)  in house with bathroom $115 and up.
        Average for same in other areas is $150 and up. Private homes $500 and (way) up
        Foreign chain hotels (Comfort Inn, Hilton, etc) are $300 and way up

> public transportation fares   
Santa Ana:    $.20 regular bus, $.25 micro bus
Santa Tecla:    same
(note: there are no subways or trains here)

> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
Santa Ana:    approx. $400. Shopping 80% in the open market where prices for vegetables and fruits are much lower (and fresher) is better.
Santa Tecla:    approx. $500 and up
(note: supermarket prices are very similar to the U.S. for many products, but not all, peanut butter: $5 for a small jar, $8 for a larger jar, cleaning supplies are the same as in the U.S. The open market has awesome prices for vegetables and fruit: and the vegetable 'truck' that passes every morning has even better prices: $.50 for 10 (often much more) plum tomatoes, $.50 for a medium lettuce, $.50 for a bag of green beans, $1 for approx. 15 potatoes. $1 for 4 (sometimes 3) avocadoes ......I love this truck!)

> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
Santa Ana:    Clinic: (women-gyn-pap) $9 and up
        free clinic: Fosalud-prescriptions and mostly free except higher priced prescriptions (not so free), not the best quality attention
Santa Tecla:    same for prescriptions in the 'free' clinic

> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
Santa Ana:    American School: $400 and up (way up)

> energy prices (oil, electricity)
Santa Ana:    electricity: varies, $4 and up, depends on where you live and how much you use ($8 and up). Some pay $40 and more.
Santa Tecla:    similar

> gasoline
Right now is approx. $2.60 because of oil prices. But usually is the same as the U.S.

> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
Santa Ana:    Home: TIGO package for cable and telephone $23 (but varies with different packages)
             Cell phones: simple cell approx. $14, others approx. $50 - $100 and up
Santa Tecla:    Home: similar (some areas are much more with cable, telephone and internet packages)

> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
Santa Ana:    pupusas: varies by restaurant and quality of cheese used: $.30 and up for each pupusa. In better restaurants I paid up to $.70 for each pupusa, but the quality was so much better. A typical breakfast: $1.50 -             $2.00, lunch: $2.50 and up
Santa Tecla:    similar but usually higher

> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
Santa Ana:    depends on where you go (average $1.00) for a beer.
        coffee: instant $.15 to $20.  ground: $1 and up
Santa Tecla:    $1.50 and up

> taxi
varies: $3 and up, depends on how far you are going. This prices is negotiable (do this BEFORE you get in the taxi).
    From the airport to Santa Ana: approx. $75 (but could be less), depends on who you use. Foreigners are generally overcharged. (in 2008 I was charged $60 the first time, then $75 then second time)