Is El Salvador Expensive? Our Budget Travel Guide
How much do you need when traveling around El Salvador?
Rapidly growing in popularity, this small Central American nation is now becoming a must-visit for travelers heading through the region.
Here we can hike along spectacular volcanoes, chill-out on relaxed Pacific beaches and also visit some awesome Mayan ruins without the crowds.
In this guide we’ll look at the typical costs you can expect when traveling El Salvador, such as for accommodation, food and getting around. As well as recommending some of the best tours you can do, we’ll also answer some popular questions in our FAQ section.
Is El Salvador Expensive for Tourists?
Quick Answer: Overall we would say that El Salvador is a good mid-priced country to visit (for Central American standards that is). Whilst not as cheap as say Guatemala, it’s certainly more budget-friendly than Panama or Costa Rica.
When backpacking around El Salvador, we recommend setting a daily budget of roughly $20-25 a day. This will be a solid amount for staying in a comfortable dorm room, eating local meals as well as for using public transport to get around cities and regions.
Those who are looking for a more luxurious experience can expect to spend between $30-40 a day in El Salvador. With this budget you can stay in a sleek private room, eat out at nicer restaurants and also take Ubers more frequently.
Things to know before traveling to El Salvador
- The Safety Situation – Things have improved massively throughout El Salvador since early 2023, where a large crackdown on gangs took place from the government. When I (George) last traveled to El Salvador, even San Salvador felt much safer than the majority of other Central American cities. Of course this isn’t a license to go crazy, however you can definitely relax more here when compared with say Honduras or Nicaragua.
- Planning Your Itinerary – Whilst many say this country is too small and has little to do, we on the contrary think there’s tonnes to see throughout El Salvador. For this reason we recommend planning at least 2 weeks here, and ideally 3 weeks if you have more time. As well as spending time on the beaches, you can also base yourself for longer in Santa Ana as you hike volcanoes and explore charming rural towns and ruins.
- Getting Around El Salvador – Although covered better in the transportation section of this guide, you’ll find it easy to hail buses and colectivos to get around. Locals are really friendly and even walked out of their way to take me to a bus stop (multiple times), so if in doubt then ask locals for some guidance.
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How much does a trip to El Salvador cost?
Budget travelers and backpackers can expect to spend roughly $20-25 a day in El Salvador, whilst those who want an upgrade in experience (such as private rooms, eating in nicer establishments) can budget for around $30-40 a day.
This budget only covers accommodation, food and a few extras (like beers, a walking tour or entrance etc). Other costs such as flights and day tours will need to be planned with a different budget in mind.
Cost of Accommodation in El Salvador
Whilst food and transportation costs can be reduced here (which is similar with other countries like Guatemala and Nicaragua), your accommodation costs will generally be your biggest expense. See this selection of hostels in Central America as a reference.
Those who want to save will want to stick to hostels, which typically cost $6-10 a night for a dorm bed. It’s important to note that the more touristy areas (like La Libertad) can be more expensive, and especially when visiting during the high season.
When heading to San Salvador, we recommend staying in the Hostal Cumbres del Volcán Flor Blanca which has comfortable dorm beds at a good rate.
We can also find great value private rooms in El Salvador if you fancy upgrading your experience. Similar with hostels, expect prices to be higher in certain areas, although you’ll want to usually budget for $15-25 a night.
In Santa Ana we highly suggest staying at Hotel Brunette, which is close to many attractions as well as the Parque Libertad.
Cost of Food in El Salvador
The cuisine of El Salvador is very similar to that of Guatemala and Honduras, and main dishes are made up of beans, rice and meat. However, when here make sure you try a Pupusa – the national dish of the country.
Street food is the best way to go to keep your costs down, and you can easily find a filling meal for $2-3. Again, be sure to only eat in places that are busy or popular with locals, and avoid getting ice in your drink (given sickness can be an issue in these regions).
If you’re after a more luxurious meal or international cuisines, then you’ll also have plenty of options. Given El Salvador used US Dollars, it also means that many tastes and chains have also been brought over and found in most destinations.
This is especially the case in popular backpacking towns like El Tunco, where there are endless touristy restaurants (with a nicer meal for one costing anywhere from $4-10 per person).
Cost of Transportation in El Salvador
Overall your transport costs are going to be a fraction of what you spend day-to-day when traveling through El Salvador. This is because public transport is cheap, and also as distances are pretty short too.
Colectivos are very useful for exploring the more rural regions, and reliably connect them from major backpacking areas. For example in Santa Ana we can find colectivos whizzing by every 20 minutes that head to towns such as Atiquizaya (where the infamous hot waterfalls are located).
These rides cost just a couple of dollars, so it’s best to have spare change ready before jumping on colectivos. I (Dan) also did some hitchhiking while here in El Salvador.
Buses are also ideal when traveling between major backpacking destinations, such as:
- San Salvador
- Santa Ana
- San Miguel
- La Libertad
Despite being on different corners of the country, these public buses take no longer than 3/4 hours a ride and are also really cheap for Central America (you’ll pay a maximum of $5/10 for a one-way trip).
Cost of Tours & Attractions in El Salvador
Although smaller than the other Central American nations, there’s so much to see and do here that you could easily be occupied for many weeks trying to squeeze in everything possible.
Some experiences don’t require a tour, however joining an organized one can certainly boost your experience. A good example is a walking tour, and especially when heading to the busier cities which can be easier to navigate (and learn about) when with a knowledgeable local guide.
When in San Salvador, we recommend joining this walking tour which visits key sites such as the El Rosario Church and the Metropolitan Cathedral.
On the other hand we’ll find experiences which require a tour to head on, or others of which would be really difficult to try to do alone. This is definitely the case when hiking some volcanoes near Santa Ana, given the need for transport to and from the city to the trails.
You can join this day tour of the Cerro Verde National Park, which includes all transport as well as your entry tickets into the extinct volcano.
El Salvador FAQs
Here are some questions our readers ask when it comes to visiting El Salvador:
Is El Salvador Expensive for Tourists?
And that’s all for our guide on how expensive El Salvador is.
This popular country is a perfect choice for those who want to see breathtaking nature and a warm culture. So much so that it’s becoming an increasingly popular choice for those who want cheaper costs and less tourism than other countries such as Costa Rica.
In this guide we’ve looked at how much money you’ll need when traveling around El Salvador. This guide focuses more on the minimum required for low-budget travelers, so of course if you feel like upgrading then by all means go for it!
Be sure to read our Backpacking El Salvador Itinerary for more ideas and destinations to add to your own trip around this memorable Central American nation.
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