San Salvador El Salvador.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Official figures show that rising food costs continue to strain Salvadoran households, with the basic food basket remaining a significant burden despite modest year-over-year price increase.
As of April 2025, according to government data, El Salvador’s basic food basket cost for urban families stands at $247.27, while rural families pay $178.76.
The urban basket is $68.51 or 27.7% more expensive than its rural counterpart, based on average family sizes of 3.73 members in urban areas and 4.26 members in rural zones.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Change 2024-2025 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 200.96 | 200.41 | 199.24 | 213.43 | 245.02 | 256.74 | 246.64 | -10.10 (-3.9%) |
| February | 200.58 | 199.24 | 200.41 | 215.45 | 249.70 | 256.82 | 247.61 | -9.21 (-3.6%) |
| March | 200.19 | 198.90 | 201.31 | 220.95 | 249.09 | 254.79 | 245.89 | -8.90 (-3.5%) |
| April | 200.53 | 201.26 | 200.13 | 223.86 | 247.79 | 255.21 | 247.27 | -7.94 (-3.1%) |
| May | 199.84 | 209.83 | 201.04 | 227.39 | 247.87 | 256.56 | ||
| June | 202.37 | 211.44 | 203.72 | 235.47 | 250.77 | 262.17 | ||
| July | 200.68 | 209.33 | 202.70 | 238.71 | 255.36 | 264.92 | ||
| August | 199.49 | 203.72 | 204.75 | 238.95 | 255.19 | 259.97 | ||
| September | 198.54 | 200.65 | 205.43 | 237.89 | 257.61 | 249.26 | ||
| October | 198.14 | 197.69 | 212.55 | 239.87 | 257.81 | 245.74 | ||
| November | 199.63 | 200.54 | 214.14 | 240.64 | 255.60 | 244.28 | ||
| December | 199.30 | 198.14 | 211.81 | 240.37 | 257.06 | 246.06 |
SEE ALSO: Cost of Living in El Salvador: How expensive is it to live in El Salvador?
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Change 2024-2025 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 144.91 | 145.40 | 141.68 | 157.13 | 185.26 | 185.12 | 179.97 | -5.15 (-2.8%) |
| February | 143.40 | 145.86 | 143.67 | 156.50 | 187.08 | 185.17 | 181.05 | -4.12 (-2.2%) |
| March | 145.57 | 145.90 | 144.71 | 158.33 | 188.73 | 183.02 | 178.13 | -4.89 (-2.7%) |
| April | 144.04 | 141.96 | 143.77 | 163.93 | 190.10 | 180.70 | 178.76 | -1.94 (-1.1%) |
| May | 145.78 | 146.96 | 145.09 | 163.36 | 188.84 | 179.08 | ||
| June | 144.43 | 151.81 | 146.31 | 173.74 | 188.89 | 179.23 | ||
| July | 144.14 | 146.62 | 145.34 | 178.07 | 193.98 | 180.34 | ||
| August | 145.35 | 145.04 | 148.09 | 179.47 | 189.02 | 177.31 | ||
| September | 144.90 | 142.82 | 147.12 | 173.97 | 192.27 | -176.21 | ||
| October | 145.96 | 138.76 | 153.55 | 183.36 | 193.48 | 175.34 | ||
| November | 144.07 | 146.65 | 153.20 | 183.47 | 189.39 | 175.22 | ||
| December | 141.23 | 141.63 | 151.88 | 181.54 | 186.08 | 179.00 |
The food basket, which covers staples such as bread, tortillas, rice, meats, eggs, milk, beans, fruits, and vegetables, has decreased in cost compared to a year earlier.
In urban areas, the basket fell by $7.94, or 3.1%, from April 2024, while rural areas saw a decrease of $1.94, or 1.1%.
Despite recent movements, prices remain significantly higher than at the start of President Nayib Bukele’s administration.
Since June 2019, the cost of the urban basket has risen 22.2%, from $202.37 to $247.27, an increase of $44.90.
In rural areas, the basket price has climbed 23.8%, from $144.43 to $178.76, a $34.33 increase.
Thus far in 2025, fruits, bread, and milk have seen the highest price increases in urban areas, whereas in rural regions, the increases are in fruits, milk, and fats.
Fruits, including oranges, plantains, and bananas, have risen 4.3% in urban areas and 4.8% in rural zones.
Milk prices — covering both processed and raw varieties — have increased 3.4% in urban settings and 3.3% rurally.
Pan Frances, a staple of Salvadoran cuisine, has increased by 4.1% year-to-date in the urban sector, making it the second-highest increment in the urban food basket.
The third highest year-to-date increase in rural areas is fats, which include oil, margarine, and vegetable shortening; it has risen by 1.8%.
The persistent rise in essential food prices highlights the ongoing economic challenges faced by Salvadorans, even as the country records historic lows in violence and homicides.
With low wages and the rising cost of living, concerns about economic stability have become the primary issue for many households, particularly among those living in poverty.
