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Bookmark & shareYou'll pay more for accommodation and food in El Salvador than in some neighboring countries, but at least bus transportation is cheap. Budget travelers should be able to live on US$25.00 - US$30.00 a day; travelers wanting more comfortable accommodation and a few sit-down meals should expect to spend US$30.00 - US$45.00 a day; and anyone in search of the finer things in El Salvador should budget at least US$75.00 - US$100.00 a day.
In 2001, the US dollar became the legal currency. ATMs accept most debit cards affiliated with Plus and Cirrus. Large city banks will exchange travelers' checks and issue cash advances against Visa cards. That said, it's always a good idea to bring a stash of US dollars, in denominations of US$20.00 and smaller.
Money Preferred Form
In January 2001, El Salvador saw the dollarization of its currency, that is, the adoption of the US dollar as the official currency in place of the colón, which technically still exists, but you'll probably never see one.
El Salvador is plastic-happy. There are ATMs scattered all over the country, even in small towns. The major banks accept most foreign debit cards. If your bank at home charges exorbitant fees, you can usually avoid them by going in to the bank and taking out a cash advance as if it were a credit card. For this to work, be sure to say it is a tarjeta de crédito not a tarjeta de débito .
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Currency
- Name
- US Dollar
- Symbol
- US$
values frequently used: 1, 5, 10, 20 dollar denominations; values rarely used: 2, 50, 100 dollar denominations
values frequently used: 1, 5, 10 (dime) and 25 (quarter) cent denominations; values rarely used: 50 cent, dollar
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Changing Your Money
Many people find travelers' checks less convenient and no more secure than using debit cards. You may consider bringing a couple of hundred dollars in cash, as an emergency stash should your debit card be lost or stolen. Most Banco Cuscatlán, Scotiabank and Banco Atlántida branches change travelers' checks (passport and purchase receipts required); American Express checks are best. There are also Western Union offices in most towns - even tiny, isolated ones.
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Money Tips
In town, look for the ATMs in small locking cabins - they are preferable to those right on the street. In all cases, be aware of your surroundings and avoid withdrawing money at night.
A value-added tax (IVA) of 10% is applied to all goods and services in El Salvador; make sure you know whether it's already included in the listed price.
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Sample Price Guide
- surfboard rental
- US$ 10.00
- museum admission
- US$ 2.50
- 2hr bus ride
- US$ 0.90
- 1hr internet
- US$ 1.00
- Típico breakfast
- US$ 1.50
- gallon of gas
- US$ 3.00
- liter of bottled water
- US$ 0.85
- small bottle of beer
- US$ 1.00
- souvenir t-shirt
- US$ 10.00
- street snack (bean and cheese pupusa)
- US$ 0.35
Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe US$5-15 US$15-25 US$25-45 US$45+ Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe US$3-5 US$5-10 US$10-20 US$20+ -
Tipping
A 10% tip is expected at restaurants. Bargaining isn't as common in El Salvador as in other Central American countries. A little back-and-forth is common with taxi drivers (it's customary to tip) and market shopkeepers, but hard bargaining, á la Guatemala, can seem a bit rude.
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
