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 decreases.
As of March 2025, according to government data, El Salvador’s basic food basket cost for urban families stands at $245.89, while rural families pay $178.13.
The urban basket is $67.77 or 27.6% 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 slightly in cost compared to a year earlier.
In urban areas, the basket fell by $8.90, or 3.5%, from March 2024, while rural areas saw a decrease of $4.89, or 2.7%.
Despite recent declines, 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 21.5%, from $202.37 to $245.89, an increase of $43.52.
In rural areas, the basket price has climbed 23.3%, from $144.43 to $178.13, a $33.70 increase.
So far in 2025, the highest price increases have been recorded in fruits, milk, and beans across both sectors.
Fruits, including oranges, plantains, and bananas, rose 4.5% in urban areas and 4.8% in rural zones.
Milk prices — covering both processed and raw varieties — increased 3.4% in urban settings and 3.3% rurally, while beans saw a 2.1% rise in both sectors.
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.
