Costa Rica vs El Salvador
El Salvador costs roughly 32% less than Costa Rica, though Costa Rica scores higher on both safety and healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
El Salvador is approximately 32% less expensive than Costa Rica based on cost of living including rent. This makes El Salvador a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
El Salvador has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 31.4, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: El Salvador is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Costa Rica
Costa Rica works for retirees who want a rubber-stamp visa, not bargain hunters chasing rock-bottom prices. A one-bedroom near the city center runs $903/mo, pushing this above typical Latin America budget destinations. The Pensionado visa only requires $1,000/mo in retirement income, but progressive income tax up to 25% and a clear path to permanent residency mean this is a lifestyle purchase, not a tax play.
$1,153/mo
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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.
$1,568/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Costa Rica | El Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 129.4 +42.2 | 87.2 |
| Healthcare Index | 64.3 +27.4 | 36.9 |
| Safety Index | 45.9 +14.5 | 31.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 50.1 | 37.9 +12.2 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $944 | $692.8 +251.2 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $3,504.1 | $2,512.8 +991.3 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $903.45 | $739.24 +164.21 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $642.83 +7.33 | $650.16 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1,721.95 | $1,260 +461.95 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,157.73 | $876.71 +281.02 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 212.24 Mbps +60.9 | 151.3 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in El Salvador. File confidently from abroad.
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