For meals, transport, tips - whats the safe amount to carry in El Salvador ? Trying to plan a daily budget for a month long trip
I spent $120-$150 removed link Boutique hotels in Suchitoto $70-$90/night, meals with cocktails $20-$25, and private drivers $30-$40 removed link Tips of 10-15% in restaurants. Tours with guides, like Ruta de las Flores, cost $40-$50. A safe budget for higher comfort is around $130 removed link
Over a month I averaged $50 removed link Airbnb in San Salvador $500/month, groceries from Super Selectos $10-$12/day, local buses cheap, and occasional splurges like ziplining at Apaneca $25. Tipping hotel staff a few dollars a week. A very sustainable budget for long-term travellers.
My safe budget was $65-$75 removed link Hotels near Playa El Tunco or Suchitoto cost $35-$40, dinners at nicer restaurants $10-$15, and private shuttles between towns $15-$20. Tips of 10% at restaurants were common. Tours to volcanoes like Santa Ana ran $20-$25. That range gave me balance between budget and comfort.
I travelled El Salvador on $30-$35/day. Dorm beds in San Salvador or El Tunco were $10-$12/night, pupusas cost $0.50 each, and local meals rarely exceeded $4-$5. Chicken buses across the country cost $0.50-$1 per ride. I tipped small at cafes but it wasn’t expected. Activities like surfing lessons in El Tunco were $10-$15/hour. This budget made it one of the cheapest countries in Central America for me.