Puerto De La Libertad vs Aguilares: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Puerto De La Libertad ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Aguilares is approximately 52% less expensive than Puerto De La Libertad based on cost of living including rent. This makes Aguilares a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Aguilares has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 25, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Aguilares is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Puerto De La Libertad
Puerto de la Libertad is a small beach town that punches above its weight for budget-conscious expats, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $350/mo and a single adult budget tier of $577/mo. The catch is that the retiree score of 56/100 and limited English proficiency mean this is not a soft landing for everyone, and the pensionado program requires $1,095/mo in income. Digital nomads get a decent 63/100 and 45 Mbps internet, but the small expat community and fair healthcare keep it from being a full-service expat hub. Come for the low costs and the Malecon, stay if you can handle a town of 45 thousand where you will need some Spanish.
About El Salvador
Safety Index of 31.4 with a crime score of 58.6 is the real barrier here, not the paperwork. Remote workers chasing the Digital Nomad Visa at just $1,636/mo income should look past it, since Quality of Life scores 87.2 and rent runs $739/mo for a 1BR. Bitcoin-friendly tax rules help, but 30% progressive income tax still bites for high earners.
$2,187/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Aguilares
Aguilares is cheap even by Salvadoran standards, with a one-bedroom outside the center at $218/mo and a single adult budget tier of $439/mo, but a safety index of 25/100 and a crime index of 75/100 make it a hard sell for anyone who values walking home after dark. The expat community is essentially nonexistent, English proficiency is limited, and healthcare quality is poor, so you are trading comfort and company for low rent. Add a retiree score of 36/100 and a digital nomad score of 40/100, and this is a place for the self-sufficient, not the social. Come for the $7 restaurant meal and 55 Mbps internet if you must, but do not expect Aguilares to make settling in easy.
About El Salvador
Safety Index of 31.4 with a crime score of 58.6 is the real barrier here, not the paperwork. Remote workers chasing the Digital Nomad Visa at just $1,636/mo income should look past it, since Quality of Life scores 87.2 and rent runs $739/mo for a 1BR. Bitcoin-friendly tax rules help, but 30% progressive income tax still bites for high earners.
$2,398/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Puerto De La Libertad | Aguilares |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $450 | $296.59 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $350 | $217.5 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $700 | N/A |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $550 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 67 | 25 |
| Internet Speed | 45Mbps | 55Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Puerto De La Libertad | Aguilares |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $864/mo | $712/mo |
| Excluding rent | $514/mo | $494/mo |
| Rent | $350/mo | $218/mo |
| Groceries | $179/mo | $179/mo |
| Dining out | $68.00/mo | $68.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $73.00/mo | $53.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $194/mo | $194/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Puerto De La Libertad vs Aguilares -- Frequently Asked Questions
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