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In El Salvador, the annual per capita income is US$3,700 (International Monetary Fund April 2011). Minimum monthly incomes set by government decrees (2011): US$104.98 for agriculture workers; US$224.21 service workers; textile factory workers US$187.60; etc. Average monthly salaries are higher for persons with supervisory/management positions (US$400 - $1000+) in the private and public sectors; teachers receive monthly salaries between US$450 - $650 (higher for private schools), and some bilingual schools and a few call center industries pay US$1000+ to their fluent and experienced bilingual staff. While the prices of homes in rural towns are low, in the safest neighborhood of the San Salvador metropolitan area, Antiguo Cuscatlan, rents for apartments range from US$400 - $2000+ and for houses, US$250 - $2000+. It’s very difficult finding rentals in the lower ranges and buying a home can be expensive (US$100,000 - $400,000). The cost of living in El Salvador is affordable for some; it is not for the majority poor and working class.

I think there's a typo: $200 per day should be per month, otherwise it's an accurate wage account. I have an issue w/ the writer's comment about opportunities for those who want to "deal" w/ the poor ppl. It's not about "dealing" w/ the poor ppl. Salvadorans in general are not very open to different ways of doing things. The response to some different way of doing something they've done forever a certain way is "that's not how we do things here". If you're a foreigner it's explained away as you're being a foreigner; if you're Salvadoran then you're either being a snob ("he/she thinks she's better than us") or got used to ways from "away" ("you've just been away too long!"). At least that's been my experience as a Salvadoran who grew up in the States but NOT in a Hispanic community & who now lives in a very rural area near Sta. Ana, the city. When I cook & have my friends (only one now since my other nice neighbor moved away) taste what I make, it's always "you must've brought the ingredients from "away"". It's been an uphill battle just getting them to accept that basil is NOT a medicine! Outside of San Salvador or Antiguo Cuscatlan, foreigners are accepted as being foreigners but, like any small town in the US, never really accepted as part of a community. If you happen to be of Salvadoran extraction & living there, you're foreigner 'cause you're ideas are not the norm any more. I even have siblings here (my father's offspring) & though they love me, I'm still "La Gringa" & never quite a part of things. Maybe that colors my thinking or reaction but my late hubby, from KY, w/ whom I moved here, said the same thing. He fit in better than I did 'cause he was from rural KY & he understood the way things were done. I grew up in SF, CA in a household where no Spanish was spoken & my dad's family was Italian (German grandma but the bulk of the family was established Italian), from Salerno. So yeah, I'm only Salvadoran by blood (my mother remarried, obviously) & though I absolutely LOVE El Salvador, I get the foreigner's experience. Having said all this, if you are thinking of moving here but want to live the REAL El Salvador, rent a place first, then take your time looking for a place for you. My late hubby & I made a really GOOD friend who loves Americans & is a great explorer. If anyone wants or needs a contact in El Salvador who'll help them navigate the ins & outs of society and/or needs a place to stay, leave a msg for me on the posted e-mail & I'll do my best. El Salvador is not as bad as this writer makes out. There ARE areas that aren't safe, just like anywhere else w/ a dense population, but my hubby & I never bought a car but rode public transport, DO NOT live in a gated community & didn't buy an expensive house w/ fine finishes & were perfectly happy. I still am. Here's hoping to hear from other intrepid wanna-be Salvadorans! =D

And prices even going higher in San Salvador almost every month!!! I live in a middle and working class area, sold my car, am retired and have few 'things' so I live cheaply join ex pats of El Salvador FB group for great people and good advices, no trolls, most of us know each other and no braggarts, fanfarrones in spanish You are accepted for who you are no "Anti Americanism nor anti semitism etc. or Euro American rivalries to worry about there are also no "ex pat" colonies or gated communities usually your neighbors are locals. This is and never will be Costa Rica! join https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/ExpatsInElSalvador/