Hi everyone,
I have been living here for 7 years, most of that time in Santa Ana.
Also, keep in mind the prices for foreigners are much, much higher. So if you have local friends or contacts, these prices could be so much lower, especially for housing and most of the smaller hotels.
accommodation prices
Santa Ana: near downtown: 1 room with bathroon: $50 incuding water, 3 room house outside downtown: $80 and up includes nothing. Other houses are $400 and (way) up to $700 or $800 (depends on where it is (Santa Ana in big))
Hotels: vary $30 and up for a halfway decent hotel, some are $50 (depends on needs), many are by the hour or $10 a night (not so nice) and up. Hotel Tolteka is the best in my opinion
Santa Tecla: near La Gran Via (mall) and San Salvador 1 semi-private room (need to walk through the house to get to the front door) in house with bathroom $115 and up.
Average for same in other areas is $150 and up. Private homes $500 and (way) up
Foreign chain hotels (Comfort Inn, Hilton, etc) are $300 and way up
> public transportation fares
Santa Ana: $.20 regular bus, $.25 micro bus
Santa Tecla: same
(note: there are no subways or trains here)
> food prices(per month, how much does it cost you?)
Santa Ana: approx. $400. Shopping 80% in the open market where prices for vegetables and fruits are much lower (and fresher) is better.
Santa Tecla: approx. $500 and up
(note: supermarket prices are very similar to the U.S. for many products, but not all, peanut butter: $5 for a small jar, $8 for a larger jar, cleaning supplies are the same as in the U.S. The open market has awesome prices for vegetables and fruit: and the vegetable 'truck' that passes every morning has even better prices: $.50 for 10 (often much more) plum tomatoes, $.50 for a medium lettuce, $.50 for a bag of green beans, $1 for approx. 15 potatoes. $1 for 4 (sometimes 3) avocadoes ......I love this truck!)
> health prices (for those who need medical insurance)
Santa Ana: Clinic: (women-gyn-pap) $9 and up
free clinic: Fosalud-prescriptions and mostly free except higher priced prescriptions (not so free), not the best quality attention
Santa Tecla: same for prescriptions in the 'free' clinic
> eduction prices (if you need to pay)
Santa Ana: American School: $400 and up (way up)
> energy prices (oil, electricity)
Santa Ana: electricity: varies, $4 and up, depends on where you live and how much you use ($8 and up). Some pay $40 and more.
Santa Tecla: similar
> gasoline
Right now is approx. $2.60 because of oil prices. But usually is the same as the U.S.
> common bills (Internet, television, telephone, mobile phone)
Santa Ana: Home: TIGO package for cable and telephone $23 (but varies with different packages)
Cell phones: simple cell approx. $14, others approx. $50 - $100 and up
Santa Tecla: Home: similar (some areas are much more with cable, telephone and internet packages)
> prices of a good menu in a traditional restaurant
Santa Ana: pupusas: varies by restaurant and quality of cheese used: $.30 and up for each pupusa. In better restaurants I paid up to $.70 for each pupusa, but the quality was so much better. A typical breakfast: $1.50 - $2.00, lunch: $2.50 and up
Santa Tecla: similar but usually higher
> prices of a beer and or a coffee in a regular pub
Santa Ana: depends on where you go (average $1.00) for a beer.
coffee: instant $.15 to $20. ground: $1 and up
Santa Tecla: $1.50 and up
> taxi
varies: $3 and up, depends on how far you are going. This prices is negotiable (do this BEFORE you get in the taxi).
From the airport to Santa Ana: approx. $75 (but could be less), depends on who you use. Foreigners are generally overcharged. (in 2008 I was charged $60 the first time, then $75 then second time)
