San Salvador, El Salvador Capital City.
The price of the urban basic food basket (CBA) reached $264.74 in August 2026, according to data from the National Office of Statistics and Censuses (ONEC), a branch of the Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
Compared with the previous month, the basket increased by $3.25, or 1.2%, rising from $261.49 in July to $264.74 in August, showing a relatively modest month-to-month increase.
The increase is more noticeable when measured from the beginning of the year. The basket cost $252.08 in December 2025, meaning urban food costs had risen $12.66, or 5%, by August 2026.
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Year-over-year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 245.02 | 256.74 | 246.64 | 250.82 | 4.18 (1.7%) |
| February | 249.70 | 256.82 | 247.61 | 252.66 | 5.05 (2.0%) |
| March | 249.09 | 254.79 | 245.89 | 254.64 | 8.75 (3.6%) |
| April | 247.79 | 255.21 | 247.27 | 256.71 | 9.44 (3.8%) |
| May | 247.87 | 256.56 | 248.22 | 258.22 | 10.00 (4%) |
| June | 250.77 | 262.17 | 253.06 | 259.95 | 6.89 (2.7%) |
| July | 255.36 | 264.92 | 255.06 | 261.49 | 6.43 (2.5%) |
| August | 255.19 | 259.97 | 250.79 | 264.74 | 13.95 (5.6%) |
| September | 257.61 | 249.26 | 250.71 | ||
| October | 257.81 | 245.74 | 250.75 | ||
| November | 255.60 | 244.28 | 253.32 | ||
| December | 257.06 | 246.06 | 252.08 |
On a year-over-year basis, the Urban Basic Food Basket increased from $250.79 in August 2025 to $264.74 in August 2026, a rise of $13.95, or about 5.6%.
The longer-term comparison is considerably sharper. In August 2021, the basket cost $204.75. Five years later, it had climbed to $264.74, an increase of about $60.00, or 29.3%.
Overall, the latest monthly increase was small, but the bigger picture tells a different story. In August 2026, urban households were paying nearly 29% more for the basic food basket than five years ago.
Rural Food Basket Cost
El Salvador’s Rural Basic Food Basket reached $189.63 in August 2026. Compared with the previous month, the rural basket increased by $3.12, or 1.7%, going from $186.51 in July to $189.63 in August.
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Year-over-year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 185.26 | 185.12 | 179.97 | 183.27 | 3.30 (1.8%) |
| February | 187.08 | 185.17 | 181.05 | 183.53 | 2.48 (1.4%) |
| March | 188.73 | 183.02 | 178.13 | 185.45 | 7.32 (4.1%) |
| April | 190.10 | 180.70 | 178.76 | 186.10 | 7.34 (4.1%) |
| May | 188.84 | 179.08 | 179.75 | 185.51 | 5.76 (3.2%) |
| June | 188.89 | 179.23 | 184.57 | 189.56 | 4.99 (2.7%) |
| July | 193.98 | 180.34 | 190.80 | 186.51 | -4.29 (-2.2%) |
| August | 189.02 | 177.31 | 189.40 | 189.63 | 0.23 (0.1%) |
| September | 192.27 | 176.21 | 190.94 | ||
| October | 193.48 | 175.34 | 190.11 | ||
| November | 189.39 | 175.22 | 185.31 | ||
| December | 186.08 | 179.00 | 184.50 |
Since the end of 2025, the cost has increased slightly. The basket stood at $184.50 in December 2025, meaning it had risen $5.13, or 2.8%, by August 2026.
Year over year, the rural food basket rose just $0.23, from $189.40 in August 2025 to $189.63 in August 2026, an increase of about 0.1%.
The five-year comparison shows significant changes. In August 2021, the Rural Basic Food Basket cost $148.09. By August 2026, the price increased to $189.63, marking a rise of $41.50, which is approximately 28.1%.
El Salvador’s Basic Food Basket
El Salvador’s Basic Food Basket matters because it reflects the minimum cost of essential foods Salvadorans need to survive. When the basket becomes more expensive, families feel the impact immediately in their daily meals.
For minimum-wage workers, even small increases strain already limited budgets. A rise of just a dollar can force trade-offs between food, transportation, or school expenses for their children.
Those living in poverty are hit the hardest. Many already spend more than half their income on food, leaving little room for unexpected price changes or economic shocks.
Tracking the food basket is crucial for understanding real living conditions. It shows whether salaries keep pace with basic needs and highlights the gap between official wages and the actual cost of survival.
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.
