Residential Rents in El Salvador
Medians from the CAF yearbook
| Measure | El Salvador | San Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Median monthly rent | $1,578 | $1,875 |
| Median house price (2024) | $265,500 | $542,300 |
Source: La Prensa Gráfica: El Salvador has the highest housing prices in the region, CAF yearbook, March 20261
For comparison, the median house price was $159,057 in Mexico City and $178,752 in Panama City. The medians are well above what most local households can pay: the average household income in 2025 was $763.81 a month.1,3
Examples by neighbourhood, 2026
- San Benito: a two-bedroom flat of 129 m² at about $1,900 a month.
- Santa Elena (Antiguo Cuscatlán): executive houses from over $1,500 a month.
- Santa Tecla and Ciudad Merliot: two-bedroom flats at about $700 to $900 a month.
Source: Diario El Mundo: guide to the areas with the highest value growth in San Salvador, 20264
These examples come from a June 2026 guide by Diario El Mundo that does not name its data source; treat them as indications only.4
Rising prices
Residents of Soyapango and Apopa told La Prensa Gráfica in May 2026 that prices had risen in their areas too, in line with the registry data. Inter Press Service reported in August 2026 that high housing costs were putting home ownership out of reach for many families.2,5
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is rent in El Salvador?
The 2025 housing yearbook by CAF and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy put the median rent at $1,578 a month nationally and $1,875 in San Salvador.
How fast have housing prices risen?
National Registry Centre data show the average price per m² rising from $124 in 2016 to $276 in 2026.
What is the median house price in San Salvador?
$542,300, based on 2024 data.
Sources
- La Prensa Gráfica: El Salvador has the highest housing prices in the region, CAF yearbook, March 2026 (in Spanish)
- La Prensa Gráfica: residents of Soyapango and Apopa confirm the price rise in the data, May 2026 (in Spanish)
- Central Reserve Bank: Multipurpose Household Survey (EHPM) 2025 (PDF, in Spanish)
- Diario El Mundo: guide to the areas with the highest value growth in San Salvador, 2026 (in Spanish)
- Inter Press Service: high housing costs push home ownership away in El Salvador, August 2026 (in Spanish)
Figures checked 8 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.
