San José del Cabo vs Ilopango
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Ilopango is approximately 95% less expensive than San José del Cabo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ilopango a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ilopango has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Ilopango is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowMexico
San José del Cabo
El Salvador
Ilopango
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Ilopango
Ilopango is a cheap, low-key base for anyone who wants El Salvador without San Salvador prices, and the numbers back it up: a cost of living index of 30/100 against an average monthly net salary of $995/mo, with a single person spending about $380/mo excluding rent. The rent data is genuinely strange, though, since a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $1,020/mo while a 3-bedroom in the center goes for $590/mo, so do not sign anything before you have walked the listings yourself. An expat score of 84/100 and a FIRE score of 84/100 are strong, but a retiree score of 61/100 and a digital nomad score of 63/100 tell you the infrastructure and community are thin, and with no expat community to speak of, you are moving into a working Salvadoran city, not a resort. Come for the low overhead and the 621 m elevation, stay only if you can handle being the only foreigner in the room.
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.
Ilopango costs roughly 2.4x less than San José del Cabo. The cost gap makes Ilopango the stronger pick for financial independence. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Ilopango is approximately 95% less expensive than San José del Cabo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ilopango a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ilopango has a FIRE Score of 84/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Ilopango is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About San José del Cabo
San José del Cabo is a small-town beach base with a real cost-of-living edge: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $704/mo, utilities average $72/mo, and a mid-range solo budget lands near $1,170/mo. The catch is that local net salaries average $974/mo, so the arithmetic only works if you arrive with remote income or savings, and the visa income floors of $2,600/mo or $3,738/mo make that explicit. The expat scene is very few and English is mostly confined to tourist areas, so expect a quieter, more Spanish-first daily life than the bigger resort corridors. Come for the arid climate, the 9 km hop to SJD, and the low crime index of 35/100, not for a built-in social network.
About Mexico
Safety-sensitive retirees should pause: a 46.6 safety index and a significant safety index gap may signal real risk. But budget-conscious Americans willing to navigate that tradeoff get low rent (a one-bedroom city-center apartment averages $659.65\/mo), a large expat network, and an easy $3,738/mo income visa path to permanent residency.
$1,758/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ilopango
Ilopango is a cheap, low-key base for anyone who wants El Salvador without San Salvador prices, and the numbers back it up: a cost of living index of 30/100 against an average monthly net salary of $995/mo, with a single person spending about $380/mo excluding rent. The rent data is genuinely strange, though, since a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $1,020/mo while a 3-bedroom in the center goes for $590/mo, so do not sign anything before you have walked the listings yourself. An expat score of 84/100 and a FIRE score of 84/100 are strong, but a retiree score of 61/100 and a digital nomad score of 63/100 tell you the infrastructure and community are thin, and with no expat community to speak of, you are moving into a working Salvadoran city, not a resort. Come for the low overhead and the 621 m elevation, stay only if you can handle being the only foreigner in the room.
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.
$1,915/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | San José del Cabo | Ilopango |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1307.35 | $670 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $703.96 | $1020 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2011.3 | $590 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1508.48 | $630 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 60 |
| Internet Speed | 45Mbps | 50Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | San José del Cabo | Ilopango |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,252/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $548/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $704/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $166/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $129/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $103/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $126/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $24.00/mo | 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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