Cost To Visit El Salvador: Travel Budget Guide (2026)
El Salvador is one of Central America’s best-value destinations, especially if you focus on beaches and nature. This travel budget guide breaks down the daily cost of hotels, food, transportation, attractions, day trips, and more.
El Salvador uses the US dollar (USD). Prices are shown only in $ (USD) for ease of use for our U.S. audience.
Is El Salvador Cheap To visit?
For most travelers, yes—El Salvador is generally cheaper than most U.S. vacations and often budget-friendly for Central America. Your biggest cost drivers are usually where you stay (beachfront vs inland), how you get around (private driver vs bus), and how many paid experiences you do (guided volcano hikes, surf lessons, boat days).
El Salvador is popular with budget backpackers in Central America—so if you keep it simple with local food, guesthouses/hostels, and buses, it usually feels like a great value and your money goes a long way.
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El Salvador Vacation Costs
Below is a detailed expense breakdown for accommodations, food, transportation, and attractions—followed by day trip costs and realistic daily/weekly budgets.
Avg. Accommodation Cost
Peak
- Budget Travelers: $20–$45 per night
- Mid-Range Travelers: $60–$120 per night
- Luxury Travelers: $180–$450+ per night
Shoulder-Season
- Budget Travelers: $18–$40
- Mid-Range Travelers: $55–$105
- Luxury Travelers: $160–$400+
Off-Season
- Budget Travelers: $16–$38
- Mid-Range Travelers: $50–$95
- Luxury Travelers: $140–$350+
Quick note: Beach towns can price higher than inland areas (Suchitoto, Ataco, Santa Ana), especially for ocean-view stays.
Food Cost
Budget Travelers
- Breakfast: $3–$7
- Lunch: $5–$10
- Dinner: $7–$14
Mid-Range Travelers
- Breakfast: $7–$12
- Lunch: $10–$18
- Dinner: $18–$35
Luxury Travelers
- Breakfast: $12–$20
- Lunch: $18–$35
- Dinner: $45–$90+
Transportation Cost
Airport (SAL) → Popular Areas
- To San Salvador: $25–$45 (taxi/rideshare)
- To Surf Coast (El Tunco/El Zonte area): $45–$90 (private transfer)
- To Santa Ana: $45–$90 (private transfer)
Public buses (best for budget)
- City rides: $0.25–$1
- Regional routes: $2–$8 (varies by distance)
Tourist shuttles (popular for surf route + major stops)
- Typical one-way: $25–$60
Taxi / rideshare
- Short rides (cities): $4–$12
- Longer rides (between hubs): $25–$80+
Car rental (useful for Ruta de Las Flores + volcano circuit)
- Compact car:
- Off-Season: $30–$45/day
- Shoulder: $35–$55/day
- Peak: $45–$70+/day
- Fuel + parking (typical daily): $10–$20
Private driver
- Half-day: $70–$140+
- Full day: $120–$220+
Attractions
- Santa Ana Volcano hike (often guided/organized): $10–$40
- Cerro Verde National Park area: $3–$10
- Lake Coatepeque viewpoints/boat time: $10–$60+
- Surf lesson (group/private varies): $35–$90
- Pupusa cooking class (where offered): $25–$70
- Suchitoto cultural tours: $10–$40
- Joya de Cerén (archaeological site): $5–$15
- Museums in San Salvador: $2–$10
- Beach days: free (rentals extra where offered)
Day Trip Costs
| Day Trip | Transportation Cost (Round Trip) | Top Attraction | Attraction Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Volcano (from Santa Ana / San Salvador) | $6–$18 (bus) • $60–$150 (driver/tour) | Volcano crater hike | $10–$40 |
| Lake Coatepeque | $6–$18 (bus) • $60–$140 (driver) | Lake views + boat time | Free–$60+ |
| Ruta de Las Flores (Ataco / Apaneca loop) | $8–$25 (bus) • $35–$90 (shuttle) • $80–$180 (driver) | Coffee towns + viewpoints | Free–$25+ |
| Suchitoto | $4–$12 (bus) • $50–$120 (driver/tour) | Colonial town + lake views | Free–$40 |
| Joya de Cerén | $4–$12 (bus) • $50–$120 (driver) | UNESCO site (“Pompeii of the Americas”) | $5–$15 |
| Surf Coast (El Tunco / El Zonte) | $4–$15 (bus) • $25–$60 (shuttle) • $90–$180 (driver) | Surf lesson + beach day | $35–$90 |
| Tamanique Waterfalls (from Surf Coast) | $8–$25 (local transport) • $50–$140 (guided) | Waterfall hike + swim | Free–$25+ |
Daily Budget For El Salvador
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $35–$70 |
| Shoulder | $32–$65 |
| Off-Season | $30–$60 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $85–$165 |
| Shoulder | $78–$150 |
| Off-Season | $72–$140 |
| Season | Daily Total (Per Person) |
|---|---|
| Peak | $180–$450+ |
| Shoulder | $160–$400+ |
| Off-Season | $140–$350+ |
Weekly Budget For El Salvador (7 Days)
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $140–$315 | $70–$140 | $20–$75 | $40–$180 | $270–$710 |
| Shoulder | $126–$280 | $65–$130 | $18–$70 | $35–$170 | $244–$650 |
| Off-Season | $112–$266 | $60–$120 | $16–$65 | $35–$160 | $223–$611 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $420–$840 | $140–$245 | $45–$160 | $90–$350 | $695–$1,595 |
| Shoulder | $385–$735 | $130–$230 | $42–$150 | $85–$330 | $642–$1,445 |
| Off-Season | $350–$665 | $120–$220 | $40–$140 | $80–$310 | $590–$1,335 |
| Season | Lodging (7 nights) | Food (7 days) | Transport | Attractions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | $1,260–$3,150+ | $315–$700+ | $120–$420+ | $200–$750+ | $1,895–$5,020+ |
| Shoulder | $1,120–$2,800+ | $300–$630+ | $110–$390+ | $180–$700+ | $1,710–$4,520+ |
| Off-Season | $980–$2,450+ | $280–$560+ | $100–$360+ | $170–$650+ | $1,530–$4,020+ |
Flight Cost
Flight cost depends on where you’re departing from, the season, and the airline. Major international airports will have cheaper flights than smaller airports. Most U.S. travelers fly into San Salvador International Airport (SAL).
Average round-trip flight ranges from the U.S.:
- Peak: $350–$650
- Shoulder: $280–$520
- Off-Season: $220–$450
You can save money on flights by signing up for cheap flight alerts from Jetsetter Alerts.
El Salvador Travel Seasons
Peak Season
- Late December–April: Most demand (and higher prices) tends to hit during the driest, most travel-friendly stretch—especially in surf towns with limited lodging. Expect the biggest spikes around Christmas/New Year’s and Semana Santa (Holy Week), which falls in March or April.
Shoulder-Season
- May–June and November: Often the best mix of value and weather. You’ll usually see better room availability and more flexible tour scheduling.
Off-Season
- July–October: Typically the best chance for deals, but expect higher rain chances that can impact waterfall hikes, volcano visibility, and ocean conditions on some days.
- Why it’s cheaper: fewer travelers and more accommodation discounts.
- Tradeoff: higher rain chances that can affect volcano views, hikes, and some beach days.
Yes—often. For many travelers, $2,000 is more than enough for a week in El Salvador, especially if you split lodging costs and use shuttles/buses for some routes.
- Budget Travelers (7-day total): $223–$711
- Mid-Range Travelers (7-day total): $590–$1,595
- Luxury Travelers (7-day total): $1,530–$5,020+
If you add a rental car for the whole week, multiple surf lessons, and private drivers for day trips, you’ll spend more—but $2,000 still covers most mid-range itineraries comfortably.