Is El Salvador expensive to visit?
El Salvador is known as both a well-liked and very budget-friendly destination. It's generally not considered to be expensive at all, and our cost analysis agrees. When compared to the rest of Central America, it is a very affordable country. It stands in the top 10% of countries in Central America for its affordability. This makes it comparable with destinations such as Guatemala.
How expensive is El Salvador?
The average daily spending amount for tourists in El Salvador tends to be around $29 (U.S. Dollars). Keep in mind that your travel style, spending habits, and trip length will influence these costs. However, you can keep fairly close to this budget if you opt for moderately priced hotels, dine at economical restaurants, and make use of public transportation when available. See more travel costs for El Salvador here.
How expensive is a one week trip to El Salvador?
Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one week trip to El Salvador will cost around $204 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one week trip would cost $409.
How expensive is a two week trip to El Salvador?
On average, a two week trip to El Salvador costs about $409 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a two week trip costs $818.
How expensive is a month long trip to El Salvador?
A one month trip to El Salvador costs about $876 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one month trip costs $1,752.
Is it expensive to backpack in El Salvador?
El Salvador is a somewhat popular destination for backpackers, offering over 20 hostels around the country. The average cost for a dorm room in one of these hostels is around $12 per night. (See details on hostel prices in El Salvador here.) Backpackers often head first to hostels in Santa Ana. For budget-friendly options, Santa Ana offer some of the most affordable hostels, averaging $10 per night. Conversely, you'll find the most expensive hostels on average in Santa Ana with an average cost of $10 per night.
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in El Salvador.
- $17 for a dorm bed at Hostel Casa Verde Santa Ana in Santa Ana
- $17 for a dorm bed at La Zona Hostel in San Salvador
- $18 for a dorm bed at Canuck’s Guest House in La Libertad
Where to find affordable hostels in El Salvador
| City | Number of Hostels | Average Price for a Dorm |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana | 10 | $10 |
Are hotels expensive in El Salvador?
When analyzing the price of hotels in El Salvador, they're slightly more affordable compared to the rest of the world. The average price is $87 per night for a decent hotel room. Keep in mind that places like San Salvador are more expensive, averaging around $70 per night. But fear not, there are budget-friendly destinations like San Salvador where you can book a room for an average of $70 per night.
Where to find affordable hotels in El Salvador
| City | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|
| San Salvador | $70 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in El Salvador?
In El Salvador, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the country. On average, previous travelers have spent around $0 per day on sightseeing and entertainment.
- Santa Ana Volcano Hike Tour from El Tunco Beach: $95
- Real City Tour San Salvador : Historic Downtown & Boqueron Park: $75
- Archeological Mayan Sites Tour including the Pompeii of America, Joya de Ceren: $95
- Layover Tour The Best Tour Guides , San Salvador City and Volcano no exit fees: $101
- Full-Day San Salvador City Tour Including Coffee Experience+ rainbow slide: $68
- Private 4x4 Tour with View of San Salvador from the Former Cable Car: $43
- 7 Waterfalls Tour at Casa 1800 Los Naranjos with Breakfast: $20
- Private Full-Day Tour Visiting the Colorful Towns in La Ruta De Las Flores: $165
Is food expensive in El Salvador?
In El Salvador, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $14 per day on food, per person.
- Street food tour and visit to the historic center of San Salvador: $52
Is transportation expensive in El Salvador?
Local transportation in El Salvador can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $7 on local transportation per person per day. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
Expenses for intercity transportation within El Salvador can vary based on the type of transportation used and the distance traveled. On average, previous travelers have spent $4 per person per day for intercity transit. To save money, it's advisable to choose long-distance buses or trains over air travel. This is generally a more cost-effective choice despite the potential increase in travel time.
More for El Salvador
If you're planning a trip to El Salvador, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.