Travel Costs in El Salvador
All figures are approximate estimates in USD for comparison.
- Budget / day
- $35
- Mid-range / day
- $80
- Luxury / day
- $200
- Budget meal
- $4
- Coffee
- $2.5
- Local transport
- $0.35
- Budget hotel
- $15
- Mid-range hotel
- $55
Overview
El Salvador is one of the more affordable destinations in Central America, benefiting from the US dollar as its official currency which eliminates exchange rate confusion. Budget travelers can get by cheaply on local pupuserías and chicken buses, while mid-range costs rise with air-conditioned hotels and sit-down restaurants. The main cost drivers are accommodation quality, dining choices, and transportation between surf towns and tourist sites.
Notes
Use the ubiquitous chicken buses (local microbuses) for intercity travel at a fraction of tourist shuttle prices, and eat at pupuserías and comedores where a filling meal rarely exceeds $3-5.